Abstract
Mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are an extirpated species of caribou, once residential to northwest Montana. Heavily abundant in the mid-1800s, their decline began significantly in the early 20th Century due to massive habitat alterations resulting from wildfire, climactic change and anthropogenic disturbances. This reduced their local numbers and fragmented Montana habitat from the large, more suitable remaining portions of habitat in British Columbia.
Though little was done to protect mountain caribou, local investigations in the 1970s and 1980s determined that though residential herds likely no longer existed after 1950, there still may be large tracts of suitable habitat remaining in the Kootenai National Forest, the Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park.
In order to determine the suitability of one of the areas of historic mountain caribou occupancy, a habitat study in the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness and the surrounding area was conducted. The intent of this study was to assess the suitability of the Cabinet Mountains for a theoretical reintroduction of mountain caribou.
Analysis was conducted at the first, second and third orders. At the third order, suitability was assessed according to a variety of criteria that directly influence caribou, specifically terrain, forestry, historic and future impacts of wildfire, interspecific competition, predatory abundance, the potential effects of Chronic Wasting Disease and the historic and contemporary levels of anthropogenic disturbance.
After the habitat assessment was completed, a broad analysis was conducted to determine the protocols for recovery that include recommendations for implementation of a state-based recovery program, guidelines for translocation of Canadian caribou into Montana, potential habitat improvements and possible predator control policies.
The study concludes that generally the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness possesses approximately 94.1 km2 of highly suitable habitat, 294.64 km2 of suitable habitat and 200.01 km2 of moderately suitable habitat that could sustain approximately 4-5 herds, or 20-60 animals at a density of 26-150 caribou/1000km2.
These herds will likely require assistance from managers, that will require silviculture improvements, enhanced fire mitigation policies, population augmentation, predator control and modest changes in motorized recreation.