Abstract
A zone of continuous woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) distribution is defined for northwestern Ontario. This zone establishes a benchmark for measuring the success of future management of habitat and conservation of populations. Inventory of key winter, summer and calving habitats reaffirms the concept of a dynamic mosaic of habitat tracts that supports caribou across the landscape. The historical range recession leading to this current distribution has been associated with resource development, fire and hunting activities over the past 150 years, and numerous attempts at conservation over the last 70 years. The decline was apparently phased according to several periods of development activity: i) early exploitation in the early to mid-1800s; ii) isolation and extirpation of southern populations due to rapid changes in forest use and access between 1890 and 1930; and iii) further loss of the southernmost herds due to forest harvesting of previously inaccessible areas since the 1950s. Lessons learned from history support current conservation measures to manage caribou across broad landscapes, protect southern herds, maintain caribou habitat as part of continuous range, maintain large contiguous tracts of older forest and ensure connectivity between habitat components.
Highlights
The status of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northwestern Ontario has been debated widely because information on population size and range occupancy is inadequate. Kelsall (1984) suggested that caribou were secure in local areas in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, but considered the southeastern Manitoba, Slate Islands, Pukaskwa and Lake Nipigon populations threatened
This paper looks at the current and past distribution of woodland caribou in northwestern Ontario, and describes ecological, social and economic factors associated with the historic decline in range
Caribou Range Occupancy The zone of continuous distribution of caribou in northwestern Ontario (Fig. 2) is supported by discrete seasonal habitats distributed across that zone (Fig. 3)
Summary
The status of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northwestern Ontario has been debated widely because information on population size and range occupancy is inadequate. Kelsall (1984) suggested that caribou were secure in local areas in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, but considered the southeastern Manitoba, Slate Islands, Pukaskwa and Lake Nipigon populations threatened. Kelsall (1984) suggested that caribou were secure in local areas in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, but considered the southeastern Manitoba, Slate Islands, Pukaskwa and Lake Nipigon populations threatened He considered Ontario's woodland caribou part of the "vulnerable" western Canada population. A more detailed account of current distribution and historical recession of woodland caribou range in Ontario was provided by de Vos & Peterson (1951) Improved understanding of the nature of past range recession will support development of management strategies to avoid future range loss
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