Critical habitat proposed for Selkirk caribou

BOISE – Woodland caribou have been on the endangered species list since 1984, and now the federal government is making steps to designate critical habitat to aid in their recovery in the southern Selkirk Mountains. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced Nov. 29 a proposal to designate about 375,562 acres in Bonner and Boundary counties in Idaho and Pend Oreille County, Wash., as critical habitat. That area is home to about 46 caribou.

Under the Endangered Species Act, critical habitat identifies geographic areas that contain features essential for the conservation of a listed species. Federal agencies must consult with the USFWS on projects that would modify the habitat 

Snowmobiling restrictions in high elevation areas north of Priest Lake remain in effect while the U.S. Forest Service devises a new winter travel plan. Greg Hetzler, who is in charge of drawing up the travel plan, said this habitat designation would impact anything they would do in the travel plan.

“We would have a hard time moving on with the travel plan,” he said, in light of the new announcement.

Tim Laser, a wildlife biologist for the Selkirk Conservation Alliance, said there are some good protections in Fish and Wildlife’s plan, but it doesn’t address everything.

He said they especially need to work with counterparts in British Columbia where most of the caribou habitat lies. The latest proposal affects only the U.S. half.

One issue he pointed out is providing a crossing at Highway 3 just north of the boarder. Since it was built in 1963, the road has cut the caribou ecosystem in half, he said. 

Addressing predation and motorized recreation on both sides of the boarder are other areas Laser feels need looking at. He is reviewing the USFWS proposal and said the Selkirk Conservation Alliance plans to submit comments about these areas.

SCA has been doing winter flyovers of caribou habitat in North Idaho for about eight seasons. They monitor where the caribou are, check to see if snowmobilers are staying within their boundaries and check on other species including wolves, wolverine and bears. 

Last season, the weather prohibited the helicopter flights during the prime part of the season, in February and March. They managed to get in the air only twice during the regular season and they didn’t see any caribou then, Laser said. 

Caribou prefer elevations above 4,000 feet and steep terrain with old-growth forests. When winter snow deepens, mountain caribou feed almost exclusively on arboreal lichens that occur on trees that are typically 125 years or older.

The loss of old growth forest to timber harvest and wildfire is the primary threat to the species’ survival, according to a news release from USFWS. Human activities such as road-building and recreational trails can also facilitate the movement of predators into the caribou’s range.

A 2002 lawsuit brought by environmental groups Defenders of Wildlife, The Lands Council, Selkirk Conservation Alliance, and Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the USFWS to designate habitat. A 2009 settlement agreement gave the service until Nov. 20 to submit a final rule. 

The designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, or other conservation area. 

The proposed habitat designation is the first part of a two-step process. USFWS will gather information about caribou from other agencies and tribes. 

Comments and materials concerning this proposed rule can be submitted by Jan. 30, 2012, electronically at www.regulations.gov. Go to docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2011-0096 and click on the Proposed Rules on the left side of the screen.

Comments may be emailed to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R1-ES-2011-0096; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.