Our position: Predator controls and mountain caribou recovery

February 1st 2012

Mountain Caribou Project position statement

Habitat destruction and fragmentation from logging, mining, and other development together with growing backcountry motorized recreation have severely impacted BC's unique inland temperate rainforests and southern mountains caribou. Mountain caribou adapted to habitats typified by large tracts of dense old growth forests, heavy snows and steep terrain – features that protected them from predators like wolves.

As those old forests have been increasingly affected, they’ve become friendlier to moose, deer and elk – which in turn has allowed wolf and cougar populations to grow and prey on lower numbers of caribou.
 
The Science Team responsible for mountain caribou recovery planning has stated that caribou will not recover without some degree of predator control. Smaller herds of fewer than 50 animals are particularly vulnerable to predation.

Predictably, such a strategy is very controversial and divisive in the public sphere. Mountain Caribou Project groups have discussed predator controls within our groups, with top biologists and with our fellow citizens. The result of those lengthy discussions over the years is a statement that defines our position on this difficult issue.