Just 25 years ago, nearly 250 southern mountain caribou1 roamed the central Selkirk Mountains of southern B.C. As of 2023, only 252 remained. The stark numbers tell the story of a herd on the brink of disappearing.
Across the Kootenay and Columbia region, the picture is equally grim: of the nine southern mountain caribou herds that once lived here, only two remain that have a chance at recovery3: the Central Selkirks and Columbia North herds.
The Columbia North herd, with its more than 200 animals, is the only one of these herds considered to have a viable long-term future. But in Nakusp, on the shores of Upper Arrow Lake, a group of residents decided they couldn’t sit by and watch the Central Selkirks herd vanish.
A local response
In 2019, after consultation with the provincial government, the Arrow Lakes Caribou Society (ALCS) formed to give the Central Selkirks caribou a fighting chance.
Bringing together foresters, hunters, trappers, snowmobile clubs, heli-ski operators, biologists, and other community members, the society works alongside the provincial government to slow further loss. With roughly 300,000 hectares of protected land in the region, Nakusp was a good location for the site of a maternity pen — a safe space for female caribou to give birth and raise their calves before being released back into the wild.
Buying the Central Selkirks herd more time
Southern mountain caribou were listed as threatened under Canada’s Species at Risk Act in 2003, a designation meant to prompt recovery efforts before it was too late. But habitat loss, fragmentation, and disturbance have continued to drive numbers down. Old-growth logging in particular has devastated the Inland Temperate Rainforest these animals depend on. Winter recreation, including heli-skiing4 and snowmobiling, adds more pressure, displacing caribou and pushing them into lower-quality terrain. Habitat alterations have also made it easier for predator species to travel in caribou habitat, leading to higher predation levels for caribou.
Keeping the wild, wild
Inside the pen, the goal is to keep the caribou as wild and as ready for release as possible. Caribou are identified by numbers, never names, and even the shepherds tasked with their care keep contact to a minimum. The approach is intentionally hands-off, giving calves and cows the best chance to stay wild.
This year marked a milestone: for the first time, females born in the pen returned to give birth themselves. “This herd is so close to extinction. But in just four years we’ve had a positive impact,” says Frances Swan, ALCS project manager. “For me, hope for the caribou comes from this project being community-driven — we’re building a better understanding of caribou and recovery through outreach and education.”
Helping hands
The project depends on volunteers. Caribou feed heavily on lichen in late winter, and the penned herd eats about 300 kilograms each year. Early on, local volunteer groups gathered lichen; now, ALCS is engaging volunteers across the region to help.
“Inviting volunteers is a good opportunity to educate the public,” says Skye Cunningham, ALCS communications lead. “People get hands-on experience and learn about the southernmost herd of caribou at the same time.”
This season, our Youth Climate Corps (YCC) crew was able to help out. The crew collected lichen, cleared windthrow (trees uprooted by wind), and cleaned the pen after the caribou were released in July.
“We helped remove hazards like sharp stumps and rocks that could injure their hooves, and cleaned up the pen,” says Bronte, a 2025 crew member. “The highlight for everyone was seeing the baby caribou from the observation blind. Very few people get that chance. It was impactful to see them feeding and playing, and to know we were contributing directly to their wellbeing.”
She adds: “We were all impressed by how much the organization has been able to accomplish with such a modest budget. The level of care and thought that goes into protecting these animals is inspiring.”
Frances says it was a pleasure to work with the YCC crew.
“I’ve worked with many groups over the years. This crew was one of the best,” says Frances. “They worked hard, they totally understood what we’re trying to do. They asked good questions and were really hard workers!”
How to help
Want to support the ALCS efforts? Email to set up lichen picking in your region. For more in-depth education opportunities, ALCS has partnered with CBEEN to create a program tailored to school and community that includes caribou education and a lichen picking day.
- Hamilton et al. 2000
- http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/siwe/details.do;jsessionid=E55F3DC8E4403E69C570F51BAC5E0AA7?projectId=5888&surveyId=56102&pagerOffset=0
- Frisby-Boulder-Queest is considered functionally extirpated because there’s not enough breeding females. However, there are still approximately 9 animals left in this herd.
- https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12912