Seasonal Caribou Closures Start For Jasper Nationwide Park

Parks Canada makes use of seasonal closures in Jasper Nationwide Park to guard the caribou/Parks Canada

Seasonal closures within the Tonquin, Brazeau and À la Pêche caribou ranges of Jasper Nationwide Park are in impact till Could 15.

“Closing essential habitat for caribou in winter prevents the creation of packed snow trails from the valley backside to high-elevation areas,” the Alberta park mentioned in a information launch. “In winter, caribou are protected against predators by their high-elevation habitat, the place the snow is just too deep for wolves to maneuver round with out sinking. Analysis exhibits that trails packed by snowmobiles, backcountry skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers can lead wolves to prey on caribou within the very locations caribou go to keep away from predators.”

For maps of the seasonal closure areas, go to this hyperlink.

The Tonquin, Brazeau and North Boundary areas reopen to backcountry recreation between Could 16 and Oct. 31.

The variety of caribou within the Tonquin and Brazeau herds could be very low. Though their inhabitants has stabilized since 2015 and is now not in a steep decline, Parks Canada says “their ongoing survival is precarious and will change shortly. When caribou herds get too small, the herds turn into extra weak to pure threats similar to predators, illness and accidents.”

Parks Canada is at present assessing feedback from Indigenous companions, stakeholders and the general public on a proposed conservation breeding technique to rebuild small caribou herds in Jasper. A ultimate choice is predicted by the tip of this 12 months.

Seasonal closures in winter caribou habitat will stay in place whether or not or not the proposed conservation breeding program strikes ahead. Whereas no new long-term closures associated to caribou conservation are deliberate, there could also be occasional, short-term or short-term closures.