April 26, 2009 in Outdoors

Hanging on in the Selkirks

Collisions erase caribou gains

Rich Landers Outdoors editor

Despite setbacks caused by vehicle collisions, the endangered Selkirk Mountains caribou herd is at least holding an even population.

Aerial surveys completed this month as the animals begin heading north to spring range found 46 mountain caribou mostly in the British Columbia portion of the range just north of the international boundary.

That’s the same count U.S. and Canadian biologists compiled last spring, but up from 33 counted in 2004.

The herd’s recovery range covers 2,000 square miles.

Only 1,200-1,400 mountain caribou still roam the planet.

“Five of the 46 were classified as calves, for a recruitment rate of 11 …

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