Wildlife – Lance Nagwan

Wildlife

Director Report

Lance Nagwan

Wildlife Director After a six-month parental leave, I am back; ready to face any challenges with renewed enthusiasm.

My focus over the winter of 2023 will be largely taken up working towards implementation of the recently signed Tahltan Central Government (TCG) – British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management and reinvigorating the Collaborative Stewardship

Framework (CSF) work with the 3 Nations Working

Group that includes the Tahltan, Kaska, and Taku River Tlingit First Nations. The Moose Stewardship Plan (MSP) is currently in development. It includes addressing the long-standing contentious issues of hunter density, crowding, and access, by focusing on broad area objective to achieve both short- and long-term goals. Mandated to develop a co-management plan that includes enforcement and recommending regulation changes, monitoring health, habitat, and harvesters, the MSP is ultimately working to ensure that Tahltan members can have the space to practice traditions and culture to grow our spiritual connection to the land.

The TCG Wildlife Department is consistently growing in capacity, having recently hired four Predator Technicians over the summer of 2022. The staff members began by taking the Lay Kennel Predator Removal Trapping Course. They are entirely focused and have the cumbersome task of predator removal for the Tahltan Territory. Their focus will be to alleviate stress on ungulate populations that will assist populations recover to the goal of historical limits. Utilizing the data collected over the past three years from the Tahltan Wolf Collaring Project, we can strategize and create a reduction plan that will target wolfpacks in specific areas of removal. Over the course of the winter, our staff will focus on packs known to target specific Thinhorn sheep populations.