Counting on the ground has its benefits
There used to only be one way to figure out how many animals lived in an area; set off into the bush and start counting them. The Yukon's very first biological survey was conducted this way in 1900 and the method was still used as late as 1935 for estimating the half million or so animals in the Yukon Tanana caribou herd.
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Counting wildlife on the ground can be cheaper than aerial surveys, and has the benefit of involving local residents in wildlife management.
(photo: Environment Yukon)
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But as soon as aircraft were more readily available, researchers began taking to the air for population counts, and they have tended to stay aloft for such work ever since.
Now some efforts are being made to go back to the on-foot approach. Last year Manfred Hoefs, a long-time Yukon biologist, conducted a pilot project with the Yukon Fish and Game Association (YFGA).
Using large teams of volunteers, and lots of his own time, he tried to determine the status of the Takhini Valley Elk Herd through the use of local knowledge and on-ground monitoring.
"The project came about because land claims appeared to be putting some emphasis on getting local people involved in wildlife work and not leaving everything up to the government. It can also be cheaper than using planes," says Hoefs.
The elk herd was picked as a prime candidate for the pilot project as they range across a relatively small area just north of Whitehorse, much of which is accessible by road. Counting social animals like elk is easier than solitary mammals such as moose. It also helps that elk prefer open areas for much of the year versus thick forests.
The association has a long-standing interest in this herd as it was responsible for re-introducing elk into the Yukon in the 1950s, and it was able to rustle up lots of Whitehorse volunteers. More than 80 percent of the volunteers were YFGA members.
As well as interviewing area residents for their local knowledge of the herd, Hoefs organized three on-ground surveys over the course of a year. In June and September of 2002 and March 2003, large groups of volunteers walked transects over portions of the herd's range, taking note of the numbers and types of elk observed.
The survey made it clear that some seasons produced more information than others. "In some months it was difficult to see the elk so you are wasting your time. It is better to focus on the rutting season when they are easier to see as they are active and noisy then, and often out in open areas."
Hoefs also made dozens of counts on his own, slowly traveling the Alaska Highway between the Takhini River bridge and the Kusawa Lake turnoff in the early morning hours when elk are most active.
The on-ground approach is not a new technique for Hoefs as he used it as a boy while growing up in Germany. He earned pocket money by helping to flush animals out of the bush so that spotters stationed in towers could count them.
"In Germany aircraft are not used at all," he says, pointing out that aerial surveys also have their drawbacks. "If the animals are bedded down under spruce trees and do not jump up and run, you miss them."
There were about 33 animals in the Takhini elk herd when it was last surveyed in 1988. Hoefs estimates that the herd has more than quadrupled in size since then to about 160 animals.
Since the elk have not expanded their range, many people are becoming concerned about on-going habitat loss in the herd's core area as more agricultural leases are being given out there. As one solution, the Yukon Fish and Game Association has proposed creating better elk habitat on the right-of-way underneath the Aishihik power line by cutting the brush closer to the ground.
"It would create good pasture for the elk and make them less dependent on the ditches along the Alaska Highway and on agricultural areas."
The on-ground surveys are not as useful for figuring out factors such as the number of calves born and their survival over the first month or two, so Hoefs thinks that future surveys should just stick to monitoring the herd in the late summer and fall. This is the best time for determining the total size and composition of the herd.
He also hopes that Yukon communities will figure out ways to use on-ground surveys for other animals, such as the herds of deer living north and south of Whitehorse. As this method relies on lots of volunteer help, targeting animal populations close to communities is a key factor.
"The communities know better than anyone else what can be done. But it cannot be done completely without money, and lots of organizing is required."
"There are also lots of social benefits. Local knowledge is put to good use, and local people feel part of the wildlife management process. School kids could also use it to help monitor biodiversity, particularly when focusing on species such as small game, fur-bearers, and birds. There is tremendous potential."
- For more information on this project, Manfred Hoefs can be contacted at 633-4208 or by e-mail at meghoefs@internorth.com.
