Distribution and habitat use of caribou, Rangifer tarandus caribou, and moose, Alces alces andersoni, in the Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness area, British Columbia.

Abstract

There was a major movement of caribou toward the NW in winter, so that most of them were wintering along the lower portion of the Stikine River Valley, whereas in spring, movements were toward the SE portion of the park. Caribou showed no habitat preference in late winter, a preference for burns, brush and spruce-pine forest in spring, and a preference for alpine areas in fall. Moose tended to be restricted to the major river valleys in winter and were more widely distributed in spring and fall. Moose showed a general preference for burns or brush in all periods, with some associated preference for spruce, spruce-pine, or pine forests. In both fall and late winter, moose showed an avoidance of alpine habitat.-from Authors