The Arrow Lakes Caribou Society successfully captured nine caribou on March 27th from three locations northeast of Nakusp, initiating the fifth operational year of the Central Selkirk Caribou Maternity Pen. Six adult females, one two-year-old female, one 10-month-old female calf, and one 10-month-old male calf were captured. The adult caribou have previously been captured for the maternity pen, and the two calves were born in the pen in 2025. All nine caribou are adjusting nicely. Capture went smoothly and was completed in just over 3 hours.
The combined effort of 38 people across three teams made the capture possible, along with three helicopters and three pick up trucks. The capture teams were led by expert wildlife capture personnel, the provincial government Caribou Recovery Team, wildlife veterinarians, local stakeholders, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Sinixt Confederacy members and ALCS volunteers.
Caribou were captured and transported by helicopter to the landing zone near the maternity pen, where they were transferred into a pick up with attendants and carefully transported to the maternity pen. At the pen, wildlife veterinarians checked the animals and collected baseline health samples and data. We will know more from these samples in the following weeks, including how many of the cows are pregnant.
This year, the ALCS also welcomed caribou to the maternity pen before capture operations. On March 23rd, two adult female caribou and four adult male caribou made their way down from higher elevations to the vicinity of the maternity pen. The pen manager opened the gate and put out feed, and by early afternoon, the six animals made their way into the pen. This is the first time caribou have moved unaided from their late winter range to the maternity pen.
The purpose of maternity penning is to ensure pregnant cows are safe from predators during calving and to increase calf survival. This period of time in the pen also allows the animals to be fed a high nutrition diet, which improves their overall health and body condition.
The caribou will be kept in the pen through calving in May and June, until late July, depending on various factors, including temperature in the pen. Caribou will be fed and closely monitored by maternity pen shepherds, with assistance from the ALCS project team.
Disturbance in the vicinity of the maternity pen will be managed through controlled access on Kuskanax Forest Service Road. A gate and information signage have been installed 600 metres up the FSR from Hot Springs Road. The gate will be closed as necessary during critical periods – for example during calving in May. Outside of these critical times, slow, quiet, and respectful access will be possible as per posted signage and under the direction of ALCS and the Ministry of Forests.
Thank you to the community and local stakeholder groups for supporting this project.
Follow this project on our social media for more information.
Facebook: @arrowlakescaribou, Instagram: @arrow_lakes_caribou. Or, for more information contact the society by emailing al.caribou.society@gmail.com.
Arrow Lakes Caribou Society 