| Summary: | Winter habitat use and foraging patterns of mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou)
were studied in the North Cariboo Mountains near Prince George, British Columbia. Radiotelemetry
data indicated caribou used balsam-spruce stands (1373-1677 m) extensively during the
early winter (Nov-Dec) period. During late winter (Jan-Apr) caribou shifted to higher elevation
subalpine parkland habitats, however, mid-elevation balsam-spruce stands continued to be used
extensively in 1992-93 when snow accumulation was below normal. A hierarchical analysis of
caribou foraging decisions (following caribou tracks in snow) during the early winter suggested
caribou are using balsam-spruce forests in a random manner as they search for recently
windthrown trees. Caribou appeared to make coarse-grained (i.e., non-random) decisions at
relatively large spatial scales including home range selection (Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir
biogeoclimatic zone) and habitats (balsam-spruce) within home ranges. These findings suggest
that macro-habitat characteristics (elevation, forest cover type and slope) may be better predictors
overall of caribou use than are micro-habitat characteristics. Forest managers should attempt to
provide large contiguous stands of ESSF forests during landscape-level planning, as well as travel
corridors to facilitate seasonal movements. Maintaining large contiguous stands of ESSF forests
should allow caribou to forage extensively as they search for sparsely distributed windthrown
trees. Alternative silvicultural systems (i.e., selection cutting) may maintain caribou foraging
habitat if the prescription is conservative with respect to residual basal area and tree density.
Maintaining pre-harvest species composition, live to snag ratios and a range of diameter classes
with abundant arboreal lichens is recommended. === Land and Food Systems, Faculty of === Graduate
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