Caribou numbers are down 30 per cent in Jasper National Park (JNP), and only about four remain in the Maligne Valley, according to the new Jasper National Park Management Plan.

Ten years ago, there were as many as 50 caribou in the Maligne herd. However a number of factors have led to the drop, according to environmentalists and Parks Canada officials.

“I’m not surprised. Caribou have been declining for many years,” said Volker Schelhas of the Jasper Environmental Alliance. “There are a combination of factors contributing. One of those factors is we facilitate access of wolves into these areas through roads.”

The park is home to as many as 300 caribou, and a stakeholder group, consisting of biologists, residents and parks officials will be formed to decide how to best manage caribou populations.

Schelhas is pushing for the seasonal restrictions on Maligne road between Medicine Lake and Maligne lake to protect the herd. It’s similar to the restriction in place on Cavell Road designed to protect caribou from wolf predation. By closing the road for the winter, deep snow deters wolves from entering the area and hunting caribou.

“Wolf predation is one of the factors we can do something about,” Schelhas said.

The Jasper Environmental Alliance has been pushing for such a closure for more than 20 years. A previous management plan identified it as an option, but stated such a closure would not take place. The new proposed management plan leaves the door open for temporary road closures.

Schelhas said he agrees with many of the directions Parks Canada is taking with caribou, however he wants them implemented faster.

“Time is the issue,” Schelhas said, noting at the current rate, there will be no more caribou in the park.

JNP biologist John Wilmshurst said there are several reasons why caribou are declining in the park, and that Parks will consult with stakeholders to come up with a ‘reasonable’ solution. Factors affecting caribou populations include altered predator-prey relationships, wolf access, vehicles, loss of habitat and small population size.

Wilmshurst said Maligne road is still open because there is no resident wolf pack in the Maligne Valley. There is evidence wolves have hunted in the valley, yet a resident pack hasn’t been spotted since 2006.

“The greatest threat right now is not necessarily wolf predation,” Wilmshurst said.

However he also says new data raises a red flag for Parks Canada, who know wolves are using the valley. Wilmhurst said different management practises may need to be used on different caribou herds, as they face different risks.

“What is effective for Tonquin herd, may not be effective for Brazeau,” Wilmshurst said.

He also states Parks Canada operates on the ‘precautionary principle’ which states even if all the evidence isn’t in, they can take precautionary measures to protect a species.

Steve Otway, the resource conservation manager for JNP, says Parks has empirical evidence of wolves hunting caribou in the Tonquin, but that isn’t necessarily the case with the Maligne herd.

“On Cavell road, we have evidence caribou were taken by wolves. In Maligne, we have no direct evidence that wolves have been affecting the population,” Otway said.

Wilmshurst also said the ‘hyper abundance’ of elk in Jasper is attracting more wolves, which in turn prey upon caribou as the elk seek shelter in town. Caribou aren’t typically a food source for wolves.

North of the park, the Alberta government has tried killing off wolves to reduce predation on caribou, however Wilmshurst and Schelhas agree that isn’t the proper solution.

Otway said last year, caribou numbers were stable, however numbers have dropped to the point where several actions must be considered.

“The issue with Maligne is the caribou are in such low numbers have to think what we’re going to do. If we think wolves are a concern, why are they a concern? Caribou aren’t main prey for wolves.

“Is it an abundance of elk? It maybe because we have so many elk around town.”

Another issue facing caribou survival is cost, Otway said. Caribou are in trouble across the mountain parks, and the stakeholders must decide what is the best and most cost effective method to protect the herds.

“If there is only so much money to go around, we have to decide how to spend it,” Otway said, noting that caribou are in trouble in Revelstoke and Glacier national park as well.

Other stakeholder interests also affect what management practises can be implemented. Schelhas says outfitter groups are keeping the Portal Creek and Maccarib trail area open, which allows another route into the Tonquin valley. He wants that area closed during the winter as well to protect the Tonquin herd.

“There are issues. They pertain to outfitters and this is a sensitive area for parks. The outfitters have to be serviced in the winter too. If you close Portal Creek, you shut down the whole area. That’s been on the table for more than 20 years,” Schelhas said.

Wilmhurst said wolf data shows more use of the Cavell road by wolves than Portal creek.

“Wolves use Cavell more often,” Wilmhurst said.

Parks Canada issued a temporary restriction on Cavell road to prevent wolves from preying upon caribou in the Tonquin herd. The closure is in place until Feb. 15, when it is expected the snow will develop a crust hard enough for wolves to walk upon.