According to John Wilmshurst, acting resource conservation manager for JNP, there is DNA evidence that proves caribou have been living in the park boundary area for thousands of years.
“Woodland caribou are what they call a meta-population. They typically exist in small groups, between 100 to 300 animals. They are not like the barren ground caribou where you would see herds of tens of thousands,” explained Wilmshurst, who mentioned caribou population movements over the course of time are very dynamic.
Besides DNA, research at the Jasper Museum and Archives has revealed some eyewitness accounts that confirm caribou were very much at home in JNP before the turn of the century.
One of the earliest documented sightings of caribou can be found in the journals of surveyors working for the Canadian Pacific Railway. One journal written by a gentleman named T.J. Trapp and stationed at Athabasca Depot, which was likely located near where the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge stands today, gives some very detailed descriptions to his daily activities.
“Up early and off to Big Lake. Saw large caribou on the side of it. Fired one shot at it but it was too far off to hit.” – T.J. Trapp – Oct. 14, 1876.
Another entry is a little more telling.
“Up very early and went out to Caribou Lake hunting. Saw lots of Caribou and moose tracks.” – T.J. Trapp – Oct. 16, 1876.
The identity of Big Lake and Caribou Lake is hard to confirm as surveyors used different names for geographic features, however based upon Trapp’s location and descriptions it is very likely he was hunting on what Jasperites today call the bench and the two lakes he refers to were likely Patricia and Pyramid lakes.
Researching further, a film was discovered that was shot between 1938 and 1939 by Dr. Elizabet/h Elken, who was documenting a family trip to Jasper, and recorded her family spotting caribou in the area around Maligne Lake.
Warden diaries are another source of historical data that mentions caribou. According to the warden diaries dated from 1952, patrolling wardens witnessed over 87 caribou throughout the park, with the biggest single sighting in November with 28 animals sighted in the Whirlpool District, which is now known as the Tonquin. The most frequent sightings of caribou took place in the Maligne Valley.
It should be noted that random sightings of caribou by patrolling wardens, does not constitute an accurate animal count, merely it suggests that in 1952, caribou were frequently seen. Wilmshurst explained that prior to 1980 caribou counts were not conducted properly.
“They had no way to measure how many animals they didn’t see,” explained Wilmshurst.
Today, seeing a caribou is a challenge, but with the use of radio collars and aerial counts, much more accurate numbers of the caribou is possible.
Wilmshurst noted that during his presentation at the recent backcountry workshop, a map was used to display the areas of Alberta where industrial influences prevented the mountain caribou from thriving. The map was mostly red, with JNP being a conspicuous caribou habitat oasis in a sea of industrialism, suggesting there are few to no alternatives left for caribou habitat in the province. Wilmshurst explained that in the distant past caribou likely passed near where the park is today, but due to industrialization they have been cut off.
“It’s a large scale decision we are making,” said Wilmshurst. “We want to make a decision by the first of May.”
Parks Canada is busy compiling information from the two workshops that were held, as well as other sources in order to provide information on the web for all Canadians to see.
“We’ve actually started to gather comments from people outside the Jasper region who are interested in this issue,” said Wilmshurst. “We want to get it out there as soon as possible.”
In the next and final article of this series, impacts to business and alternatives will be explored.
