[July 7, 2025, Nakusp] – This spring, four female and three male caribou calves were born in the Central Selkirk Caribou Maternity Pen. At the time of capture in March 2025, eight of the ten adult females were pregnant, including a two-year-old cow.
One cow experienced a challenging calving that resulted in the stillbirth of a full-term male calf. She subsequently developed a uterine infection but responded well to veterinary care and has since made a full recovery.
The two-year-old cow delivered a notably small and fragile female calf, weighing just 3.5 kg, well below the average birth weight of 9 kg. The dam did not bond with her newborn and abandoned her shortly after calving. Veterinary personnel and shepherds stepped in to hand-raise the calf and provide supporting care. Thanks to their intervention, the calf is now thriving and weighs over 8 kg. The birth weights of the other calves ranged from 8 to 10.6kg.
Due to her small size, vulnerability, and importance to the recovery of the herd, the calf will not be released to the wild this July. Potential plans include transfer to the Parks Canada Caribou Conservation Center in Jasper, AB. In the future, she may return to the Nakusp maternity pen and integrate the herd.
All the calves were born between May 27th and June 15th and are gaining weight steadily. The caribou will remain in the maternity pen until they are released back to their habitat in mid-July 2025, once the youngest calf is at least four weeks old. Depending on the weather forecast, an earlier release may be considered.
Throughout the penning season, caribou are closely monitored by a dedicated team that includes two wildlife technicians, four ALCS team members, and a BC Caribou Recovery Program wildlife technician. Veterinary oversight is led by Dr. Amélie Mathieu, a zoological medicine specialist, with support during the calving period from veterinary technician Dan Wallon of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Access to the Kuskanax Forest Service Road is controlled at 600 metres up from Hot Springs Road. Access is currently prohibited to limit disturbances causing undue stress to the caribou during the critical calving and neonatal periods. Outside of these critical times, slow, quiet, and respectful access will be permitted under the direction of ALCS. Sound management in the vicinity of the pen is paramount to minimize disturbance to the caribou. The gate will be open after the caribou are released from the maternity pen.
Thank you to the community and stakeholders for supporting this project. For more information about the Central Selkirk Caribou Maternity Pen, visit our social media pages (Facebook: @arrowlakescaribou; Instagram: @arrow_lakes_caribou) or contact ALCS directly at al.caribou.society@gmail.com.
Arrow Lakes Caribou Society 