Mountain Goat MU 3-32C Shulaps

As a result of the Bridge River Hydroelectric project of the 1950's over 4,437 hectares of valley bottom and 232 hectares of adjacent hillsides were flooded in creating the Carpenter Lake Reservoir and resulted in the destruction of important wildlife habitat and isolation of a mountain goat herd in the Shulaps mountains. Mountain Goats are native to the Bridge River Valley. They are tolerant to a wide range of climates. However, they are highly dependent on steep slopes and ridges to avoid predators (Hamel and Cote 2007). Therefore, they are mostly found in remote areas and above the tree line (1,800 to 2,000 m) to be undisturbed during birthing, rearing and foraging. During winter they move towards low-altitude habitats where they find access to forage. The Carpenter Lake Reservoir isolation of the respective herd inhibits inter-migration of goats from different areas which resulted in the homogenization of the gene pool, subsequently diminishing their vitality and survival rates. Since the Shulaps ridge is a historic Mountain Goat habitat, the conservation of this range is imperative. The Shulaps’ remote, south aspect slopes and the ideal access to foraging sites below tree line constitute a perfect Mountain Goat habitat. Our long-term goal is to increase the Shulaps herd size to a self-sustainable level of at least 50 adult animals. The conservation of the Mountain Goat population in the Shulaps is beneficial for several parties: It will contribute to the maintenance of the regional biodiversity with positive impact on the working relations with First Nations, loggers, outfitters, trappers and hunters.

Issues:

  • The local goat population has reduced to 15 individuals and is threatened to extirpation
  • Motorized activity in the alpine terrain is displacing goats from most of their summer/fall range
  • Growing cougar and wolf predation is increasing goat mortality rates and adding to population decline

Goals:

  • Inventory flora and fauna in the mountain goat herd range
  • Identify potential threats to goat populations including predators
  • Monitor and manage the site to ensure for constant habitat quality
  • DNA analyses from scat samples
  • Study population dynamics through mapping of scat samples
  • Cooperation with First Nations, loggers, hunters and trappers to design a plan to control the number of predators
  • Increase the goat population to carrying capacity of their habitat and ranges
  • Prohibit motorized activity in sub alpine and alpine goat ranges
  • Reduce predation pressure through increased trapping and hunting of cougar and wolf
  • Initiate a mountain goat transplant after the issues have been addressed
  • Educate interested groups, general public and local communities about responsible natural resource utilization to increase engagement and participation in mountain goat conservation and raise awareness for resource stewardship activities

Objectives Management Direction/Strategies Measures of Success/Targets Intent
1. Maintain mountain goat winter and kidding ranges shown on the Mountain Goat map 1.1 Designate the winter and kidding range shown on the Mountain Goat map as “ungulate winter range” under the Forest and Range Practices Act Management objectives for mountain goat are not expected to have an impact on the timber harvesting land base so no planning allowance has been allocated
1.2 Consider available First Nations’ knowledge of winter and kidding ranges in the designation
2. Manage resource development and use activities within significant and winter/kidding range (see map) to provide forage, escape terrain, and thermal and security cover 2.1 Ensure that not more than 33% of the forested habitat within a 200 m buffer of escape terrain within winter/kidding range is in early seral ( less than 40 years) over one rotation and at least 50% basal area of mature and old stems are retained at all times Escape terrain is defined as areas with greater than or equal to 80% slope
2.2 Clearcuts within winter and kidding ranges should not exceed 4 ha
3. Manage resource development and use activities within winter/kidding range by reducing or eliminating disturbance and displacement of mountain goats 3.1 Avoid ground based, cable and helicopter logging activities within 500 metres of identified winter and kidding habitats from December 1 to June 30 unless prescribed for protection of other resource values (e.g. sensitive soils) Disturbance or displacement is minimized within occupied winter/kidding ranges
3.2 Avoid regular and repeated industrial helicopter flights within a 2-km line-of-site buffer around goats within identified and suspected goat winter and kidding range from December 1 to June 30
3.3 Avoid regular and repeated industrial helicopter flights within a 2 km line-of-site buffer around observed summer maternity groups from June 1 to September 15
3.4 Where practical, all flights should fly as far away from identified and suspected goat winter/kidding and kidding ranges from December 1 to June 30
3.5 Provincial agencies issuing tenures on Crown land should make winter/kidding habitat mapping and summer maternity range information available to clients and user groups
3.6 Avoid blasting within 500 metres of identified winter and kidding habitats from December 1 to June 30
4. Restrict disturbance or displacement of goats from recreational and tourism related human disturbance including both air and ground based mechanized forms of recreational access (e.g., cat skiing machines, snowmobiles, helicopter and fixed wing aircraft) within currently identified and suspected winter and kidding ranges (see Mountain Goat map). In no circumstances is use of current permanent helipads and common air transit routes near settlement areas (e.g., Lillooet, Lytton, Gold Bridge) and destination resorts (e.g., Tyaughton Lake) to be restricted 4.1 Avoid regular and repeated flights within a 2-km line-of-site buffer around goats within identified winter/kidding range from December 1 to June 30 Disturbance or displacement to summer maternity groups is minimized; regular and repeated aircraft flights within a 2 kilometre line-ofsite buffer around observed groups are avoided between June 1 and September 15
4.2 Avoid regular and repeated flights within a 2-km line-of-site buffer around observed summer maternity groups from June 1 to September 15
4.3 Where practical, all flights should fly as far away as possible from identified and suspected goat winter and kidding range from December 1 to June 30
4.4 Discourage recreational and tourism activities in winter and kidding habitats that disturb or displace goats during their season of use (December 1 – June 30)
4.5 Provincial agencies issuing tenures on Crown land should make winter and kidding habitat mapping and summer maternity range information available to clients and user groups
5. Manage resource development and use activities within identified winter/kidding ranges by minimizing impacts of road access and road densities 5.1 Use the seasonal access maps to identify any access management direction for public and industrial use Road densities within occupied winder/kidding ranges are minimized
5.2 Wherever possible, avoid road construction within winter and kidding habitats
5.3 Where road construction is necessary, vehicular access (2 and 4-wheel drive road vehicles) should be blocked as soon as possible after industrial activities, including planting, are completed. If required, the roads could be reopened during periods of silviculture activity
6. Continue to gather knowledge and information of mountain goat habitat, winter and kidding ranges, health and populations, including First Nations’ knowledge 6.1 Continue inventory work to improve the accuracy of current and historical population numbers and to identify habitat areas, particularly specific locations and seasons of use Improved information about mountain goat habitat and populations
6.2 Explore opportunities to involve First Nations in wildlife studies and assessments, including traditional use studies
6.3 Assist First Nations in undertaking traditional use studies that might identify their traditional use of mountain goats