The range of these caribou is restricted to a relatively small area in southeastern British Columbia and extreme northeastern Washington and northern Idaho. These included collecting information on and managing caribou habitat, determining caribou population characteristics, maintaining the population through various efforts to reduce caribou mortality, and informing and involving the public and agency personnel about caribou and caribou management. An Estimated $4.7 Million Has Been Spent for Caribou Recovery

From 1984, when woodland caribou were listed as endangered under ESA, through 1998, federal and state agencies in the United States and British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks spent an estimated $4.7 million on efforts to recover the southern Selkirk population. FWS’ Expenditures

FWS estimated that its expenditures on the woodland caribou recovery program totaled about $3.2 million. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife performed the recovery work using the grants primarily to fund activities related to augmenting the existing southern Selkirk population, including monitoring the distribution, movement, and survival of the transplanted caribou. Forest Service’s Expenditures

The Forest Service estimated that it spent about $781,000 on caribou recovery efforts from 1984 through 1998. This limitation is due to a lack of historical program expenditure records. Although the recovery program has not succeeded in establishing two new self-sustaining herds in the United States as planned, it has mapped caribou habitat in the recovery zone, developed habitat management guidelines, and completed research on certain aspects of caribou ecology. Because so many transplanted and some resident caribou have died, the increase in the overall size of the southern Selkirk population is relatively small. However, predation, mainly by cougars, is the most common known cause of death. The remaining Idaho transplants have died, left the southern Selkirk Mountains, or congregated with the core population centered around Stagleap Provincial Park. Program’s Limited Impact on Land Use

According to recovery program officials, the impact on land use due specifically to caribou recovery efforts has been relatively minor. Specifically, some restrictions have been placed on timber harvesting within the recovery zone, and a small portion of the recovery zone has been closed to snowmobiling. However, the availability of caribou for further augmenting the population, if needed, is uncertain. However, an overriding concern of the officials involved in these planning efforts is whether adequate funding will be available from the cooperating agencies to accomplish these high-priority tasks. Accordingly, a study of cougar predation has already been initiated. In commenting on our report, the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks stated that it supports the following priorities for caribou recovery in the southern Selkirks: (1) ensure a commitment to maintain funding for future recovery tasks; (2) produce a consolidated map of caribou habitat for British Columbia, Idaho, and Washington; (3) establish agreements for zoning and protecting critical winter habitats; (4) minimize recreational disturbance within those habitats; (5) proceed with a caribou/cougar morality study, including an action plan to deal with cougars identified as killing caribou; and (6) expand information and education programs to obtain public support for caribou recovery. They received $140,000 and $96,000, respectively. To determine the results of the recovery program, including the outcome of augmentation efforts and the impact of recovery efforts on land use, we interviewed officials from agencies participating in caribou recovery efforts. 1. 2. 3.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Caribou Recovery Program, focusing on the: (1) amount and source of funds expended on the woodland caribou recovery program; (2) results of the program, including the outcome of efforts to augment the population and the impact of the recovery efforts on land use; and (3) future direction of the recovery program.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) the United States and British Columbia spent an estimated $4.7 million on efforts to restore the woodland caribou population from 1984 through 1998; (2) the Fish and Wildlife Service provided the majority of these funds, spending about $3.2 million; (3) these funds were used primarily for increasing the existing caribou population by transplanting other caribou to the southern Selkirk Mountains and conducting follow-up monitoring; (4) the Forest Service and British Columbia estimated that they spent about $781,000 and $31,000, respectively, on caribou recovery efforts; (5) the caribou recovery program has achieved modest gains; (6) however, despite these efforts, the overall size of the southern Selkirk population has increased by only about 18 animals, to a total of about 48; (7) the recovery program also has not achieved its goal of establishing two new self-sustaining herds, one in Idaho and another in Washington; (8) this limited population increase is due to high mortality among transplanted caribou and the deaths of some resident caribou; (9) although the cause of death is unknown for many caribou, researchers believe that predation, mainly by cougars, is the most common cause; (10) the recovery program has succeeded in mapping caribou habitat, developing caribou habitat management guidelines, completing research on various aspects of caribou ecology, developing information and education programs, providing law enforcement, and monitoring the caribou population; (11) the impact on land use due specifically to caribou recovery efforts has been relatively minor; (12) according to the Forest Service, some restrictions have been placed on timber harvesting and a small portion of the caribou habitat has been closed to snowmobiling; (13) officials involved in planning future caribou recovery efforts agreed that, for the immediate future, the program's highest priority is to maintain the core population of caribou centered around Stagleap Provincial Park; (14) the range of this population includes northeastern Washington and northern Idaho, as well as southeastern British Columbia; (15) however, the availability of caribou for further augmenting the population is uncertain; (16) another high-priority task will be to investigate the causes of and manage caribou mortality; (17) the cooperating agencies recently initiated a study of cougar populations and their predation on caribou in the southern Selkirks; and (18) an overriding concern of officials involved in planning future recovery efforts is whether there will be adequate funding for the program.