Caribou and winter recreation

October 16th 2008

In October of 2007, after years of pressure from concerned citizens of the world, the government of British Columbia committed to "follow the science" and protect caribou habitat. Now, one year later, snowmobiling threatens the recovery of the endangered mountain caribou across the province.

According to Canadian wildlife biologist Trevor Kinley, recreation in critical habitat can be very hard on caribou, and the animals tend to avoid areas with high motorized winter recreation. In recent master's thesis work, Nicola Freeman found high levels of stress hormones in the scat of mountain caribou in snow machine and heli-ski areas–consistent with results found for other species.

Scientists have recommended that motorized closures should also apply to heli-skiing. The BC government has not committed to closures for heli-skiing in caribou habitat, despite the fact that such activities could drive caribou from their preferred critical winter range, and is instead allowing industry to self-regulate.

The BC government is about to decide which habitat areas will be closed to snowmobiling. Please send a message urging the BC government to close caribou critical habitat to snowmobiling, to protect mountain caribou, as promised.