Stone’s Sheep Situation in Stone’s Sheep Situation in NE BCNE BC

Presentation of Preliminary ResultsPresentation of Preliminary Results

March 07, 2005 Conference CallMarch 07, 2005 Conference Call

Jonah KeimJonah Keim

AXYS Environmental Consulting Ltd.AXYS Environmental Consulting Ltd.

The Literature ReviewThe Literature Review

CategoryCategory BighornBighorn ThinhornThinhorn TotalTotal

Existing ResearchExisting Research 2424 2424

HabitatHabitat 55 1919 2525

PopulationPopulation 33 1414 1818

PredationPredation 44 1313 1818

HealthHealth 11 1616 1818

Disturbance & Disturbance & ManagementManagement

2222 1313 4141

TotalTotal 3737 105105 154154

Existing Research --Existing Research --comprehensive, multi-year, baseline collectionscomprehensive, multi-year, baseline collections

6 projects identified:6 projects identified:

- K. Parker: UNBC ongoing- K. Parker: UNBC ongoing

- Peace Williston: ongoing- Peace Williston: ongoing

- Seip 1983- Seip 1983

- Hoefs and Cowan 1979- Hoefs and Cowan 1979

- Luckhurst 1973- Luckhurst 1973

- Geist 1971- Geist 1971

Existing ResearchExisting Research Stone’s sheep study plan – baseline study Stone’s sheep study plan – baseline study

objectives:objectives:1.1. To define habitat use and selection by Stone’s SheepTo define habitat use and selection by Stone’s Sheep

2.2. To assess health of northern sheep herdsTo assess health of northern sheep herds

3.3. To quantify levels and causes of mortality in sheep, To quantify levels and causes of mortality in sheep, adults and juvenilesadults and juveniles

4.4. To assess population status of sheepTo assess population status of sheep

5.5. To determine movements and resource selection by To determine movements and resource selection by predatorspredators

6.6. To define the influence of factors in optimum To define the influence of factors in optimum foraging strategiesforaging strategies

Existing Research,Existing Research,what have we gained?what have we gained?

Obj. 1Obj. 1HabitatHabitat

Obj. 2Obj. 2HealthHealth

Obj. 3Obj. 3MortalityMortality

Obj. 4Obj. 4Population Population StatusStatus

Obj. 5Obj. 5PredatorsPredators

Obj. 6Obj. 6Foraging Foraging StrategiesStrategies

Depth of Depth of UnderstandingUnderstanding

(Summary of (Summary of all projects)all projects)

High to High to V-HighV-High

Nil to Nil to LowLow

Low to Low to ModerateModerate

LowLow Moderate Moderate to Lowto Low

High to High to V-HighV-High

Research projects were assessed against the 6 objectives for understanding learned: Nil, Low, Moderate, High, V-High

Population StatusPopulation Status

data from 15 ground and aerial inventories data from 15 ground and aerial inventories between 1969 and 2004 were acquired; between 1969 and 2004 were acquired; survey objectives, survey effort, survey survey objectives, survey effort, survey area, and survey intensity variedarea, and survey intensity varied

All data was for areas in or in close All data was for areas in or in close proximity to the Besa Prophet Pre-tenure proximity to the Besa Prophet Pre-tenure area or the Sulphur 8 Mile Pre-tenure areaarea or the Sulphur 8 Mile Pre-tenure area– Excluding Peace Williston Study.Excluding Peace Williston Study.

Data – how far back did we Data – how far back did we really look? really look?

Population demographics Population demographics

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Lamb:Ewe Ram:Ewe

n = 12 n = 8

Sulphur8 Mile Besa Prophet

Total Count of Sheep Total Count of Sheep ObservationsObservations

Pre-tenure AreaPre-tenure Area YearYear CountCount

S8MS8M 19771977 997997

S8MS8M 20042004 888888

Besa ProphetBesa Prophet 19941994 536536

Besa ProphetBesa Prophet 20022002 543543

Compulsory Inspection Data – Compulsory Inspection Data – Region 7BRegion 7B

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

19761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004

Year

Hu

nte

r K

ills

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

Ho

rn A

ge

Hunter Kills Avg. Age Linear (Avg. Age)

Compulsory Inspection Data – Compulsory Inspection Data – MU 7-42 (Besa Prophet)MU 7-42 (Besa Prophet)

Compulsory Inspection Data – Compulsory Inspection Data – MU 7-54 (S8M)MU 7-54 (S8M)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

Year

Hu

nte

r K

ills

N R T

Weather and ProductivityWeather and Productivity

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

19711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5Weather Index Horn Growth Index

Habitat – Habitat – Management is most often applied from Management is most often applied from

a spatial perspectivea spatial perspective

There are learnings -take from what we know: There are learnings -take from what we know: – Sheep Behaviour - V. High Habitat Fidelity Sheep Behaviour - V. High Habitat Fidelity

– Topography is a key (slope, aspect, ET) Topography is a key (slope, aspect, ET)

– Forage productivityForage productivity

– Apply WLAP model for Winter Range and Apply WLAP model for Winter Range and confirm use from existing inventory data. confirm use from existing inventory data. Digitize historical geo-referenced data. Digitize historical geo-referenced data.

Winter Habitat ModelWinter Habitat ModelAnalysis from K. ParkerAnalysis from K. Parker

Confirm Use from Confirm Use from Existing Data Existing Data

HealthHealth

We do not have enough data on Stone’s Health.We do not have enough data on Stone’s Health. To date, nothing out of the expected range of To date, nothing out of the expected range of

variability has been observed from recent looks at variability has been observed from recent looks at serum samples and from parasite surveys in MK.serum samples and from parasite surveys in MK.

Awareness – domestic sheep and goats.Awareness – domestic sheep and goats. Incorporate a suitable long term sampling protocol Incorporate a suitable long term sampling protocol

– consider trying the outfitter sample collection – consider trying the outfitter sample collection system used in NWT by Dr. E. Jenkins system used in NWT by Dr. E. Jenkins

PredationPredation

Conflicting data on relationships between wolves Conflicting data on relationships between wolves and sheep:and sheep:– Opportunistic kills at low levels – sheep are not a major Opportunistic kills at low levels – sheep are not a major

prey source for wolves (Carey / Heofs)prey source for wolves (Carey / Heofs)

– Sheep population levels have cycled with wolf controls Sheep population levels have cycled with wolf controls (Elliot, Bergerud)(Elliot, Bergerud)

– The question::: What about the multiple prey factor?? –The question::: What about the multiple prey factor?? –Parker?Parker?

– None of the existing research studies specifically None of the existing research studies specifically highlight predation as a major population driver highlight predation as a major population driver

Disturbance & Access Disturbance & Access ManagementManagement

Sheep are sensitive to aerial disturbancesSheep are sensitive to aerial disturbances– heli-recreation needs to be consideredheli-recreation needs to be considered

Aerial Telemetry and wildlife capture has been shown to Aerial Telemetry and wildlife capture has been shown to displace Mtn. Goats and caribou and to influence study displace Mtn. Goats and caribou and to influence study results.results.

Sheep have done well with industrial disturbances Sheep have done well with industrial disturbances (mines) but do not do well with increased hunting (mines) but do not do well with increased hunting pressure and other results of increased access. pressure and other results of increased access. - Access controls are the major factor to be addressed. - Access controls are the major factor to be addressed.

From Problem Analysis to From Problem Analysis to Suggested Solutions Suggested Solutions

1.1. Use what we have already learnedUse what we have already learned1.1. Digitize historical geo-referenced dataDigitize historical geo-referenced data2.2. Traditional use data collections Traditional use data collections 3.3. Start a data libraryStart a data library4.4. Apply habitat models Apply habitat models

2.2. We need long term data for population level We need long term data for population level assessments – stronger monitoring system neededassessments – stronger monitoring system needed

3.3. We need better data collections to assess health factors We need better data collections to assess health factors for Stone’s sheep – monitoring systemfor Stone’s sheep – monitoring system

4.4. WE need to be able to monitor and to test the impacts WE need to be able to monitor and to test the impacts of previous, current, and future management practices of previous, current, and future management practices against indicators for sheep – Adaptive Management. against indicators for sheep – Adaptive Management.