Part six of an ongoing column and story series exploring the Revelstoke Caribou Rearing in the Wild maternity penning plan.
By Angie Threatful, Snowmobile Revelstoke Society Executive Director
For more than 25 years, the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society, in partnership with the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club and the British Columbia Snowmobile Federation, has been actively involved with various community and government organizations with the intent and goal of halting the decline of caribou populations.
There are significant challenges in halting the decline, however snowmobilers continue to do their part. The British Columbia Snowmobile Federation has a signed a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Management of Snowmobiling in Mountain Caribou Habitats which includes the Canadian Snowmobiler Code of Ethics and Best Operating Practices.
Furthermore, many snowmobile clubs in the province have signed Stewardship Management Agreements that clearly identify the responsibilities of snowmobilers and government in managing areas under agreements. SRS and partners continue to work at maintaining snowmobile access, managing closure areas, as well as fostering environmental stewardship through education, the volunteer snowmobile patrol program and signing of areas. We also continue to be actively involved with the Progress Board responsible for reviewing outcomes pertaining to the Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan.
When the idea to explore a maternity penning project was brought forward, SRS was excited to be an active and founding member of the Revelstoke Caribou Rearing in the Wild Society. We know from various studies that calf survival rate continues to be low and that numbers will not improve significantly if calf survival numbers don’t improve. After reviewing the outcomes of other maternity penning projects, SRS and partners felt that this project could offer the best chance for young caribou. It is important that the cows experience the least amount of disturbance, change and stress as possible.
We are very pleased to see all the work that has already been completed to ensure that the cows and calves will be well cared for and protected. This project is quite costly and uniquely challenging and thus takes a community to see it through. We are very pleased to work along side the various local stakeholders and interest groups in achieving this common goal.
Snowmobilers care about the environment. To preserve our riding environment we must protect our natural environment. We sincerely hope that this leads to positive outcome for Mountain Caribou.
February is National Environment Month. Snowmobile Revelstoke Society and Revelstoke Snowmobile Club are pleased to be celebrating our various environmental initiatives with snowmobilers and snowmobile organizations across Canada.
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Angie Threatful is the Executive Director of the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society. She is a member of the Lands and Wildlife Committee of the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club, Vice President of the British Columbia Snowmobile Federation, the Chairperson of the Lands and Wildlife Committee of the British Columbia Snowmobile Federation and a member of the National Environmental Stewardship Program Committee for the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations. Angie enjoys her family, horses and dogs when she is not working on various snowmobile projects.
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The Revelstoke Caribou Rearing in the Wild project is competing for $100,000 in funding through the Shell Fuelling Change program. To be successful, RCRW needs community members to visit the RCRW page on shellfuellingchange.com, sign up and vote. Google ‘Improving Mountain Caribou Calf Survival - Maternity Penning’ and vote before the April 30 deadline.