EKOS Communications, Inc.

RESPONSE OF BIGHORN SHEEP TO RESTORATION OF WINTER RANGE AT RADIUM HOT SPRINGS, BRITISH COLUMBIA by: ALAN D.DIBB,1 Parks Canada Agency, Kootenay National Park, Radium Hot Springs, BC V0A 1M0, Canada and MICHAEL S.QUINN, Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada Abstract: Winter range for bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in southeastern British Columbia has declined in both quality and availability due to forest ingrowth over the last several decades. In 2002 and 2003 we applied mechanical treatment methods to a 200-ha portion of traditional bighorn winter range near Radium Hot Springs, B.C., in an attempt to improve visibility for predator detection, to create sightlines to escape terrain, and to increase forage production. Treatment included timber removal with retention of clumps of veteran trees, brushing, piling and burning, and noxious weed control. We monitored bighorn sheep response to these treatments by deploying GPS radio collars on 10 sheep each year from 2002 to 2004 and collecting daily location points for each animal. Considered over entire calendar years, study animals increased their use of the treated area from 1.0% of daily locations in 2002 to 8.9% in 2004 (P<0.001). Post-treatment use of the treated area was greatest in March and April; in these months sheep use of the treated area increased from 0% in 2002 to 20.4% in 2004 (P<0.001). Prescribed fire was applied to treated areas in 2005 and we continue to monitor sheep response.