Idaho Caribou Herd Dwindles

With Idaho’s endangered woodland caribou down from 28 animals to 13, the outlook for their survival is grim without more consideration for their habitat, biologists say.

Although the caribou population within the Selkirk Mountains - including parts of northern Idaho, Eastern Washington and southern British Columbia - has stabilized at around 50 animals, predation and emigration have reduced Idaho’s resident caribou herd since 1991.

The remaining 39 caribou are found in the British Columbia portion of the Selkirks.

From 1987 to 1990, 60 caribou were captured from healthy British Columbia herds farther north and released in suitable caribou habitat in Idaho’s Selkirks.

The caribou have persisted, but the probability of extinction remains high if adult or calf survival rates do not increase, said Wayne Wakkinen, Idaho Department of Fish and Game wildlife research biologist.

“For the species to survive in the state, we must commit ourselves to addressing and solving the problems they face,” he said.

Previous logging and wildfires have resulted in a younger age structure for the forests in the Selkirk area, a primary reason for reduced woodland caribou numbers in Idaho.

“During the early winter months, caribou utilize older-aged forests with a high canopy to intercept snow,” Wakkinen said. “Later, they move to higher elevation subalpine fir stands containing large amounts of lichen … their sole source of food for five to six months of the year.”

The predation problem faced by caribou is linked to the increasing numbers of white-tailed deer in the caribou range attracting mountain lions, which prey upon deer and the occasional caribou sharing the area.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have proposed introducing caribou into the Washington portion of the Selkirk Range.

Workshop in Olympia

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will conduct a workshop Friday and Saturday at the Quality Inn in Olympia to discuss:

Plans for involving volunteers on department projects.

Plans for recovery of the ferruginous hawk and pygmy rabbit.

Proposed 1995-96 migratory waterfowl seasons and consideration for using bismuth-tin shot.

Lowland lake rehabilitation proposals, including fall treatments for Badger and Williams lakes in Spokane County, Hatch Lake in Stevens County and Crescent Lake in Pend Oreille County.

A weighted hunting permit system that would give unsuccessful permit applicants better odds in drawing a tag the following year.

Olympic National Park’s proposal to eradicate mountain goats.

Long to receive bass

Several hundred smallmouth bass will be released in Long Lake Reservoir at 8 a.m. Sunday.

The project is a joint effort of the Washington State B.A.S.S. Federation clubs, Washington Water Power, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Lake Spokane Association.

Following two days of smallmouth bass collection on Lake Roosevelt by club bass anglers, the fish will be transported via fish truck to WWP’s Browns’ Landing on Long Lake. They will be distributed through the lower 12 miles of the lake on a barge the bass clubs bought and donated to the state for fisheries projects.

Smallmouth bass, renowned for their fighting ability, can weigh up to 6 pounds. Bass planted the last two years have shown exceptional growth.

Westport report

Anglers have been catching lots of black rock bass, ling cod and yellow tail rock fish out of Westport the last week, the Westport Charter Association reported.

Half the anglers caught halibut during deep-water excursions during the week ended Sunday.

The coho salmon fishing season opens Monday and captains of charter boats say fishing should be good. Charter boats will operate Sundays through Thursdays.