Predator Program Project Charter

AUGUST 28, 2021

Tahltan Stewardship Initiative I Predator Program PROJECT CHARTER PROJECT PURPOSE

To advance the Tahltan Predator Management Framework to support the application of: •

A Tahltan Predator Management Policy endorsed by Leadership;

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Predator harvesting programs which support Tahltan member harvesting rights, defense of life and property, Tahltan community areas used to meet sustenance needs;

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Predator management decisions for increased licensed hunting and trapping and Tahltan led predator reduction programs in specified areas; and,

•

Re-establishing the licensed harvesting of grizzly bears by resident hunters and Guide Outfitters.

1. Background The Wildlife Department has been advancing the Tahltan Predator Management Framework in response to what they have heard from Tahltan membership and local experts: •

Tahltan members have identified high numbers of wolves and bears, large wolf packs, and declining ungulate populations for over ten years;

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Guide Outfitters and local knowledge have similar trends;

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Climate change is occurring in the north with documented increasing changes in temperature, precipitation, and natural disturbance events;

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This is affecting Tahltan food security, sustenance needs, cultural and social way of life; and,

Box 69, Tatl'ah (Dease Lake), BC , Canada VOC 1LO

TEL

250 771 3274

FAX

250 771 3020

tahltan.org

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•

Tahltan knowledge, community knowledge, and Tahltan Guide Outfitter knowledge are the robust data sources to support management, land use, and conservation planning.

The first step to manage predators, specifically grizzly bear, black bear, and wolf, will be through support of Tahltan members to harvest and trap the species for cultural purposes consistent with Aboriginal Law. This will be further addressed through the Tahltan Wildlife Department and Guardians deploying harvesting and trapping programs and working with commercial trappers and licensed hunters in the Nation.

The final approach is re-establishing a managed licensed hunt of grizzly bear as well as predator removal through Tahltan Central Government (TCG) trapping, snaring, and culling programs including aerial wolf pack removal, pupping, and denning techniques.

2.1 GRIZZLY BEAR AND BLACK BEAR

Tahltan knowledge, scientific literature and local knowledge provide information that support grizzly and black bear populations in the Tahltan Territory are stable to increasing. In addition, bear predation has been identified as substantial on culturally important ungulates. Tahltan members have indicated increased numbers for both species.

The current population of grizzly bears in BC is approximately 15,000 as estimated in 2012, with ~ 3,846 bears estimated in the Tahltan Territory, of which 90 - 100 (2.3%) were killed by humans with the majority from hunter harvest. This indicates a harvest of about 90-100 grizzly bears appears to have been historically supported while maintaining a sustainable bear population.

There is no estimate for the black bear population in Tahltan Territory. The province is believed to support between 120,000 and 160,000 black bears (BC Government, 2001).

Tahltan knowledge and local knowledge have indicated increased numbers of black bears over the last ten years. Historically, there has been a low licensed harvest of black bears with 23-30 annually. However, current hunting regulations have open seasons from spring to fall for bears with a bag limit of two. So, there are no conservation issues with black bears in the territory.

Box 69, Tatl'ah (Dease Lake), BC , Canada VOC 1LO

TEL

250 771 3274

FAX

250 771 3020

tahltan.org

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2.2 WOLF

Tahltan knowledge, scientific literature and local knowledge provide information that support high density wolf populations in Tahltan Territory. The Tahltan Territory is identified as having high wolf density in the Provincial Wolf Management Plan. High density includes population densities of 5 to 15 wolf per 1,000 km2. Review of wolf densities specific to the Tahltan Nation estimate wolf densities far greater than 15 wolves/1,000 km2, so not consistent with provincial information. Recent wolf harvests have on average been 64 wolves through licensed hunting and 145 wolves through commercial trapping. These are considered minimums since they do not include Tahltan harvests and hides not commercially sold.

2. Objectives or Goals 1. Furthering Tahltan preference for resident hunters, Guide Outfitters as well as Tahltan people to harvest key predators, including re-establishing the licenced harvesting of grizzly bears by resident hunters and Guide Outfitters.

2. Developing management approaches that stabilize and prevent the further decline of woodland caribou, moose, Stone's sheep, and mountain goat in Tahltan Territory.

3. Implementing Tahltan predator management, monitoring, and reduction programs through TCG, ensuring harvest management is connected with an ongoing Tahltan monitoring programs, with both government agencies on culturally important ungulates populations, and through their own monitoring initiatives on wolves, and bears.

4. Ensuring the Tahltan Predator Management Plan (TPMP) is consistent with the TCG Predator Management Policy (TCG 2020) that was endorsed by Tahltan Leadership.

5. Setting annual harvest goals for 2021: •

Wolves - 234 with a focus on harvesting in the three Community Predator Management Areas (CPMA's) and Predator Management Units (PMU's) in the core of the Tahltan Territory.

Box 69, Tatl'ah (Dease Lake), BC , Canada VOC 1LO

TEL

250 771 3274

FAX

250 771 3020

tahltan.org

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•

Grizzly bears - 90 with a similar harvesting approach but with a wider distribution of harvesting across the territory.

6. Assessing the effects of and identifying the current level of interaction between industrial activities with wolves and caribou herds.

7. Applying an adaptive approach to design protection and land use management strategies.

3. In Scope •

Continued implementation of the Predator Program through the life of the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI)

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Training for Guardians

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Monitoring

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Working with Elders and community members

4. Critical Success Factors •

Ability to deliver monitoring programs related to resource development and wildlife management

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Continued training and capacity for Guardians

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Working with Elders and community engagement on the delivery of Guardian Programs

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Ability to participate and/or deliver monitoring and field work aspects of TSI and Stewardship Projects

5. Linkages/Dependencies •

Wildlife Accord

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Tahltan Land Stewardship Planning (TLSP)

Box 69, Tatl'ah (Dease Lake), BC , Canada VOC 1LO

TEL

250 771 3274

FAX

250 771 3020

tahltan.org

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