Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are listed as a Threatened species in Alberta under the Wildlife Act, and in Canada under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Habitat alteration and predation linked to industrial footprint have been identified as the main ultimate causes of caribou population decline in Alberta. The impacts of alternative prey continue to be studied. Within northwestern Alberta multiple caribou ranges overlap with populations of wild Wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) such as the Etthithun and Hay-Zama populations listed as Endangered under the Alberta Wildlife Act, and Threatened under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Management efforts to recover caribou require information on caribou population composition and trend, as well as accurate population estimates of alternative prey species such as Wood Bison. Proper classification of total minimum count, sex and recruitment of Wood bison within Caribou ranges is critical in influencing appropriate management actions.
The alternative prey surveys for bison are scheduled between February 8th and March 31st, 2021 and will be flown in bison ranges which overlap with Caribou ranges, based out of Manning, and High Level (Etthithun, Hay-Zama and Wabasca). The alternative prey surveys will each require a single helicopter and pilot. Each helicopter crew, consisting of a pilot and 2 or 3 AEP staff including one navigator/recorder and one or two observers. All collared bison within ranges will be re-located using radio-telemetry methods and all animals will be classified (collared and non-collared) by sex and age.
The Etthithun bison range (Manning base) will likely take between three and five days of flying. The Hay-Zama bison population (High Level base) will take three to five days of flying. Additional surveys within other bison ranges, based out of High Level may be flown under this contract.
The surveys will take a total of between 7 and 12 flying days, depending on efficiency of surveying, weather, and dead-head time. There is no guarantee that all surveys will be flown as planned. Surveys will not necessarily occur consecutively and may be spaced out to account for weather or to accommodate other surveys. Survey efficiency is critical because inexperience can lead to longer search times and can increase the time that the bison are stressed or are exerting themselves. Smaller groups of bison can be found in heavy tree cover, thus opportunities to observe the animals are fleeting and maximized when a pilot is experienced in maneuvering the aircraft to capitalize on these opportunities. Bison are herding animals, as such pilots with experience surveying herding ungulates is paramount to limit stampedes and overexertion of the animals.
