Idaho’s caribou need old growth

[Ithaca 37]

Despite 20 years of recovery efforts, the last wild herd of woodland caribou in the Lower 48 states continues to struggle for survival. .............

Logging of old growth forests is hurting the caribou, because their winter diet is almost exclusively lichens that only grow on those tree branches, Buckley said.

It takes about 50 years for trees to grow tall enough to be above the snow line and support lichens. Another 50 years are needed before the lichens are abundant enough for caribou to eat.


http://www.idahostatesman.com/Story.asp?ID=57028

How about telling us again all the reasons we don't need old growth!

 

[Delw]

Ithaca.

I hope you dont believe everything you read.

Back in the late 70's there where a total of 22-30 Caribou in the very norther part of Idaho and a total of 6 in washington state.( I think those where the numbers , we studied them in highschool) It had nothing to do with food or anything else, it mainly had to do with the migration from canada.

Besides that no logging was done at that time around the treeline. the lichen they eat also grows on rocks above the treeline.

One problem was also poaching back in the late 60s and early 70's.

There has never been many caribou in the nothern sections of washington and idaho. Now there is more then there ever has. SO now because there are more we need to find something to blame it on?

BTW about 10 years ago while driveing through northern Idaho we saw about 20+ of them swimming across a big lake(forget the name but its the real big and deep one up in the pan handle that the freeway drives across).
Delw

 

[Ithaca 37]

del, Here's a key part of the article:

"But the herd is not self-sustaining and the number of caribou remains low despite transplants brought in by wildlife officials. Between 1987 and 1998, 113 caribou from other regions were brought to the Selkirks. Without the transplants, the herd would already be extinct, researchers contend.

Importing caribou from Canada and Alaska into the Selkirks has not been as successful as wildlife officials hoped. Some of animals left the ecosystem and moved north. Others were killed by predators, were poached or died of unknown causes, officials said.

Scientists believe the herd must reach 200 caribou to survive on its own for the long term. They estimate that, historically, the herd had 200 to 400 animals."

 

[Delw]

Ithaca some animals are just not ment to be transplanted,
Delw

 

[Ten Bears]

IT, why don't you look into the #'s of predators in that country. Houndsmen aren't allowed to hunt cats in that country because the grizzly bears, so there are cats everywhere.