Gun Creek Evaluation

125 years ago, the Bridge River Valley was inhabited by a healthy population of Rocky Mountain Elk but disease, severe winters and predation reduced their number until they were believed to be extinct from the entire Cariboo-Chilcotin area (Spalding 1992). This species is on the Provincial Blue List of British Columbia (of special concern). Intriguingly, recent recorded sightings, carcasses and shed antlers indicate the presence of a small number of individual elk in the area. However, numbers are not high enough to ensure a self-sustainable herd. It is necessary to assess methods necessary to create a united and stable population.

A re-introduction of elk to the Bridge River Valley is an enrichment to the area’s biodiversity. Big predators including grizzly and black bears, wolves and cougars will include them in their diet and thereby reduce predation pressure on other big game species like mountain goats and bighorn sheep.

Issues:

• Historical loss of elk in this region
• Unbalanced predator-prey dynamics due to absence of elk, resulting in higher predation on other ungulates

Goals:

• Evaluate possible elk habitat by inventorying flora and fauna
• Identify potential summer and winter ranges
• Establish a self-sustainable herd via transplanting elk from other regions
• Educate interested groups, general public and local communities about responsible natural resource utilization to raise awareness for resource stewardship activities
• Engage the public in elk re-introduction and conservation
• Reduce road density in high value winter habitat areas