Wildlife Management Bighorn Sheep Survey of Designated Winter Ranges within Alberta Wildlife Management Units 437-446 Data Summary Report Prepared by: Jeff Kneteman, Environment and Parks, Operations Division, Upper Athabasca Region, Hinton May 2016 Page 1 of 26
Acknowledgements The survey was conducted by pilot S. Wooten, navigator/observers J. Kneteman and M. Russell and observer/recorders B. Box, L. Dewart, C. Charbonneau, D. Hobson, J. Lockhart and L. Vander Vennen. Abstract During the 2016 survey of native winter range in WMUs 437, 438, 439, 440, 442, 444, 445, 446, and mine disturbed lands in WMU 446, 1696 bighorn sheep were observed, and 1639 bighorns classified. Composition was 437 rams (27%), 870 ewes (53%) and 332 lambs (20%; Table1). Adults were composed of 33% rams and 67% ewes over all WMUs surveyed, but adult sex ratio was 44% rams and 31% rams south and north of the Athabasca River respectively. Overall, adult sex composition and lambs as a proportion of total sheep are consistent with good reproductive and recruitment potential, but the high male proportion south of the Athabasca River suggests a female skewed distribution to lands not covered in the aerial survey. Introduction Aerial surveys of the Eastern Slopes of Alberta for bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) abundance, composition and location have been conducted since 1972. Since 1978, surveys have focused on selected winter ranges, where concentrations of bighorn sheep had been identified during previous flights. This report summarizes observations of bighorn sheep obtained during an aerial survey of selected winter ranges on January 30, 31 and February 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17 2016. The objective of the survey was to document the abundance and composition of bighorn sheep in Cadomin and Willmore census zones. A ground survey of the adjacent Luscar & Gregg River Coal Mine census zone was conducted by mine operators. Methods Fifteen of the selected winter ranges in WMUs 437-446 were surveyed in 2016 (Table 1). A Bell 206 helicopter was used to survey each mountain complex and associated drainages for bighorn sheep and other ungulates. Each selected winter range was flown at an altitude of 1676 2133 m (5500-7000 feet) above sea level, in an attempt to provide complete coverage of each complex. The flight crew consisted of the pilot, navigator/observer, an observer, and a recorder/observer. The navigator was responsible for classifying each group of ungulates observed, while the observer provided a total count. The recorder/observer recorded all data and provided supplemental observations. The location of each animal or group of animals was identified using a Geographical Positional System (GPS). Sheep were classified according to sex (ewes or rams) and age (lambs or adults). All sheep one year or older were considered adult. Rams were further classified according to horn-size categories: ¼ curl, ½ curl, ¾ curl, or 4/5 curl (legal). Unclassified sheep were either rams (horn size could not be determined) or could not be identified based on either sex or age. Other ungulates observed were also classified, if possible, according to sex and age. Page 2 of 26
Total sheep numbers and herd composition were compared to the results from previous surveys (1972-2015) of the study area. The locations of sheep sightings from the 2016 survey were plotted on GIS (Map info and Google) maps, based on winter range designations. Observations of other ungulate species were totaled and summarized. Results and Discussion During the 2016 survey of native winter range in WMUs 437-440, 442, and 444-446 and mine disturbed lands in WMU 446, 1696 bighorn sheep were observed and 1639 bighorns classified. Composition was 437 rams (27%), 870 ewes (53%) and 332 lambs (20%; Table 1). Adults were composed of 33% rams and 66% ewes. Composition, as measured by adult sex composition and lambs as a proportion of total sheep, indicates good reproductive and recruitment potential. However approaching sex parity (44% males) south of the Athabasca suggests a female skewed distribution to sheep ranges not included in the aerial surveys, consistent with trending since the early to mid- 1990s. The strong female skew (31% males) in adult sex ratio north of the Athabasca River is consistent with historical findings. Bighorn abundance continues to decline on native range in WMU 438, now approaching <50% of observed bighorn presence during the period of 1980-1994. However, productivity of native range remains high, typically exceeding 50 lambs/100 ewes and rarely declining below 40 lambs:100 ewes in late winter. Emigration to novel range on coal mines is consistent with the decline in bighorn abundance on native range. Declining abundance and historical low productivity of bighorns on coal mines increase concerns that a sink effect is overwhelming native range productivity and the ability to support bighorn abundance on the larger landscape. Bighorn sheep abundance in WMU 440 was the highest ever observed consisting of 449 animals which included 244 ewes and 0.44 lambs/ewe. Sheep abundance was among the highest observed since 1972 in WMU 442 and productivity was adequate (19% of all sheep were lambs). With the exception of the Swift-Horn Creek winter range in WMU 442, observed sheep abundance North of the Smoky River was lower than in previous years. Strong winds impeded surveys and presumably reduced observations of sheep relative to earlier surveys. Sheep productivity was typically low on the coal mine dominated ranges of WMU 446 with lambs comprising only 14% of 154 classified bighorn sheep. Legal ram presence in late winter remained high in WMUs 437 and 438 south of the Athabasca River at 12% of all classified sheep (n= 328). However legal ram presence remained low at 2.5% of 1311 classified sheep north of the Athabasca River. In contrast 10% of all classified sheep observed (n=490) in the upper Athabasca Drainage of Jasper National Park in late winter 2016 were legal rams. Page 3 of 26
Table 1. Abundance and age/sex classification of bighorn sheep by winter range on Alberta provincial lands; January - March 2016 WMU Winter Range Total Sheep Classified 1/4 curl 1/2 curl 3/4 curl Legal U/C Rams Total Rams 436 Ruby-Thistle n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 437 Redcap 135 135 12 8 11 17 0 48 61 26 0 438 Whitehorse 186 184 19 11 8 20 1 59 90 35 2 438 Folding Mountain 9 9 0 0 5 4 0 9 0 0 0 438 WMU 438 Total 195 193 19 11 13 24 1 68 90 35 2 439 *Brule-Solomon 109 103 6 7 5 4 0 22 49 32 6 Total 440 Hayden Ridge 41 41 4 2 1 3 0 10 22 9 0 Rocky Pass 164 164 15 12 3 3 0 33 93 38 0 North Berland 53 52 4 4 2 2 0 12 27 13 1 Moon &Planet 119 119 16 7 6 1 0 30 64 25 0 Mumm &Collie 72 72 9 3 0 0 0 12 38 22 0 Total 440 449 448 48 28 12 9 0 97 244 107 1 442 Monaghan 233 203 20 9 17 8 5 59 99 45 30 Triangle 59 59 5 4 8 0 0 17 29 13 0 Swift Horn 97 96 5 7 10 3 0 25 61 10 1 Total 442 389 358 30 20 35 11 5 101 189 68 31 444 Stearn 183 176 12 18 12 3 0 45 99 32 7 445 Torrens 82 79 2 8 9 4 0 23 44 12 3 446 SRC -Caw 154 147 9 3 20 1 0 33 94 20 7 Grand Total 1696 1639 138 103 117 73 6 437 870 332 57 *Brule-Solomon includes all sheep observed on the historical JNP Brule survey complex and the historical provincial Solomon survey complex Page 4 of 26
Table 2. Winter ranges not previously surveyed that were examined in 2011-2015 for potential to include in the regular survey program. Results not included in the WMU results or Grand Totals displayed in Table. 5. WMU Winter Survey Total Classified Range Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 440 N. Persimmon 2011 20 20 1 0 2 0 0 11 6 0 Deneor 2011 60 60 4 4 7 6 0 21 18 0 2014 33 33 5 4 6 9 0 7 2 0 436 Ruby-Thistle 2011 87 87 13 3 0 0 0 52 19 0 2012 139 139 14 4 1 0 0 81 39 0 2013 88 87 10 5 0 0 0 50 22 1 2015 51 51 3 0 0 0 0 32 16 0 Page 5 of 26
Table 3. Sheep Management Areas (SMA), wildlife management units (WMU) and sheep winter ranges surveyed in the Foothills area 1994 2015. *denotes surveyed, x not surveyed SMA WMU Complex Name Year Surveyed* 1994/95 1996 1997 1998 1999 2002 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 446 SRC/Caw Ridge x * * x x * x * 2 445 Mount Torrens * x x x * x x x x x x x * * 3 444 Mount Stearn * x x x x * x * * x x * x * 4 442 Swift & Horn * x x x * * * x * x x * x * Creeks The Triangle * x x x * * * x * x x * x * Monoghan * x x x * * * * * x x * x * Range 6 440 Hayden Ridge * * x x * * * x * x x * x * Rocky Pass * * x x * * * x * x x * x * North Berland * * x x * * * x * x x * x * North x x x x x x x x * x x x x x Persimmon Deneor x x x x x x x x * x x * x x Moon & Planet * * x x * * * x * x x * x * Creeks Mumm & Collie * * x x * * * x * x * x * Creeks 7 439 Solomon Creek * * x x * * * x * * * x * * 8 438 Folding * * x x * * * * * * * x * * Mountain Whitehorse * * x x * * * * * * * * * * Creek 9 437 Red Cap Range * * * * * * * * * x * * * * 10 436 Ruby-Thistle x x x x x x x x * * * * * x Page 6 of 26
Table 4. Comparison of observed counts of bighorn sheep in WMUs 446-436 from sampling periods between 1972 and 2016 Survey Total Classified WMU Winter Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 446 SRC/Caw 2009 192 192 5 12 16 9 0 121 29 0 2011 195 194 25 12 6 9 0 120 22 1 2014 218 204 27 14 4 6 0 110 43 14 2016 154 147 9 3 20 1 0 94 20 7 Survey Total Classified WMU Winter Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 445 Mount 1972 43 43 8 5 2 21 7 Torrens 1975 40 40 1 3 5 23 8 1978 91 91 7 9 10 48 17 1980 112 106 1 9 6 7 57 26 6 1982 110 110 9 5 19 9 51 17 1988 119 108 4 2 10 12 1 53 26 11 1994/95 99 99 10 8 6 4 50 21 1999* 46 21 1 3 3 8 6 25 2002 Not Surveyed 2008 Not Surveyed Dec. 2009 2010 123 123 5 6 4 11 0 65 32 0 2015** 83 79 5 11 3 4 0 41 15 4 2016 82 79 2 8 9 4 0 44 12 3 *1999 totals were an underestimate, as weather did not allow for surveying part of the Dinosaur/Torrens Ridge complex. **includes three groups observed in the BC portion of a complex that is primarily in Alberta Page 7 of 26
Survey Total Classified WMU Winter Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 444 Mount Stearn 1972 173 173 11 7 4 111 40 1975 171 160 3 23 8 6 103 17 11 1978 235 192 9 21 6 5 106 45 43 1980 269 250 14 11 8 15 155 47 19 1982 287 287 25 15 27 10 144 66 1988 231 231 8 10 21 2 142 48 1994/95 271 271 10 19 29 16 141 56 1999 Not Surveyed 2002 296 288 8 10 21 10 0 171 68 8 2008 Incomplete 2009 297 297 14 28 15 20 0 158 62 0 2011 264 264 10 20 14 9 0 148 63 0 2014 258 150 14 14 9 3 1 73 36 108 2016 183 176 12 18 12 3 0 99 32 7 Page 8 of 26
WMU Winter Range Survey Year Total Sheep Classified Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 442 Swift & 1972 47 47 8 3 0 0 28 8 0 Horn 1975 26 26 2 2 2 0 14 6 0 1978 32 32 2 1 1 5 0 15 8 0 1980 64 64 8 5 2 1 1 36 11 0 1982 106 106 14 7 4 4 0 53 24 0 1988 109 109 5 6 5 1 1 63 28 0 1994/95 101 101 8 9 5 0 0 65 14 0 1999 48 48 2 2 0 0 0 29 15 0 2002 118 117 6 14 11 2 0 61 23 1 2008 74 74 2 5 6 0 0 49 12 0 2011 92 92 3 1 6 5 0 55 22 0 2014 74 74 7 8 3 2 0 40 14 0 2016 97 96 5 7 10 3 0 61 10 1 442 Triangle 1972 93 93 12 6 6 0 49 20 0 1975 123 100 12 9 5 0 69 5 23 1978 51 51 3 5 1 0 31 11 0 1980 84 78 2 6 3 0 48 19 6 1982 115 115 10 5 3 3 0 59 35 0 1988 76 72 2 3 3 4 1 45 15 3 1994/95 66 66 4 2 9 2 0 31 18 0 1999 117 107 9 5 9 5 0 58 21 10 2002 99 87 4 8 12 5 0 42 16 12 2008 86 86 1 10 4 7 2 49 13 0 2011 105 105 5 12 8 5 2 49 24 0 2014 92 92 10 6 10 6 0 40 20 0 Page 9 of 26
2016 59 59 5 4 8 0 0 29 13 0 Winter Survey Total Classified WMU Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal 442 Monaghan 1972 106 106 8 11 7 69 11 0 Range 1975 97 97 1 11 10 61 14 0 1978 80 67 9 3 6 33 16 13 1980 118 112 1 13 11 8 56 23 6 1982 115 115 6 7 11 11 1 54 25 0 1988 71 68 1 8 12 7 29 11 3 1994/95 174 174 12 10 14 6 82 50 0 1999 150 150 2 9 8 13 0 84 34 0 2002 264 260 14 13 11 10 0 146 66 4 2008 95 95 2 3 14 11 0 60 5 0 2009 153 153 3 11 15 8 0 82 34 0 2011 184 184 14 7 4 12 0 95 52 0 2014 145 144 22 10 12 2 0 66 32 1 2016 233 203 20 9 17 8 5 99 45 30 442 Total 1972 246 246 0 28 20 13 146 39 0 1975 246 223 15 22 17 144 25 23 1978 163 150 2 13 9 12 79 35 13 1980 269 257 9 20 19 16 140 53 12 1982 336 336 30 19 18 18 1 166 84 0 1988 256 250 8 17 20 12 2 137 54 6 1994/95 341 341 24 21 28 8 178 82 0 1999 315 305 13 16 17 18 171 70 10 2002 481 464 24 35 34 17 0 249 105 17 2008 255 253 5 18 24 18 2 158 30 0 2009 153* 153 3 11 15 8 0 82 34 0 2011 381 379 22 20 18 22 2 199 98 0 Page 10 of 26
2014 311 310 39 24 25 10 0 146 66 1 2016 389 358 30 20 35 11 5 189 68 31 Survey Total Classified WMU Winter Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 440 Hayden 1972 75 42 0 0 1 1 0 30 10 33 1978 44 44 0 1 3 3 0 28 9 0 1980 35 31 0 2 3 1 0 18 7 4 1982 40 40 3 1 1 1 0 24 10 1988 40 27 2 6 2 1 1 10 5 13 1994/95 47 47 10 3 3 2 0 19 10 0 1996 23 23 0 2 0 2 0 9 10 0 1999 22 22 0 3 2 0 0 14 3 0 2002 35 35 1 1 3 1 21 8 2008 52 51 2 7 3 1 33 5 1 2011 28 28 2 2 2 1 0 16 5 0 2014 21 21 1 0 1 1 0 12 6 0 2016 41 41 4 2 1 3 0 22 9 0 440 Rocky 1972 34 34 2 25 7 Pass 1975 77 60 3 2 2 44 9 17 1978 54 49 3 2 26 18 5 1980 89 77 5 8 4 1 1 45 13 12 1982 87 87 9 1 7 42 28 1988 38 32 1 22 9 6 1994/95 56 55 8 2 4 2 32 7 1 1996 78 78 7 3 2 4 43 19 1999 129 129 7 3 6 2 69 42 2002 75 71 3 10 5 1 32 20 4 2008 85 85 3 1 3 0 65 13 Page 11 of 26
2011 71 69 4 2 0 0 40 23 2 2014 70 70 3 0 0 0 0 46 21 0 2016 164 164 15 12 3 3 0 93 38 0 Survey Total Classified WMU Winter Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 440 North 1972 12 12 0 1 1 0 0 7 3 0 Berland 1975 27 27 1 5 1 1 0 17 2 0 440 Moon & 1972 1978 43 43 1 4 3 2 0 19 14 0 1980 48 48 1 6 0 2 0 30 9 0 1982 36 36 9 3 1 1 0 15 7 0 1988 35 35 2 3 24 6 1994/95 86 86 7 4 2 1 53 16 1996 76 76 5 6 7 2 0 33 23 0 1999 72 72 3 3 9 5 0 36 16 0 2002 70 70 3 7 5 1 30 15 2008 59 59 3 6 6 0 41 3 2011 69 69 2 6 5 0 0 33 23 0 2014 106 106 6 10 4 5 0 51 30 0 2016 53 53 4 4 2 2 0 27 13 1 Planet 1975 65 65 5 2 2 45 11 1978 15 15 1 1 2 9 2 1980 66 66 1 4 1 3 39 18 1982 64 64 3 2 5 1 38 15 1988 49 49 7 1 1 25 15 1994/95 86 86 11 4 2 1 41 27 1996 107 107 1 7 9 1 59 30 1999 53 52 1 1 1 33 17 2002 47 43 2 1 1 1 24 14 4 Page 12 of 26
2008 60 60 2 6 7 3 33 9 2011 59 59 3 2 0 0 0 35 19 0 2014 57 57 2 5 2 3 0 32 13 0 2016 119 119 16 7 6 1 0 64 25 0 Survey Total Classified WMU Winter Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal 440 Mumm & 1972 41 28 0 3 1 0 0 20 4 13 Collie 1975 14 4 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 10 1978 26 26 3 6 6 2 0 5 4 0 1980 34 34 0 4 7 1 1 15 6 0 1982 40 40 0 4 1 4 0 20 11 0 1988 49 49 0 5 9 0 0 25 10 0 1994/95 45 42 2 5 4 3 0 19 9 3 1996 54 54 7 2 13 1 0 20 11 0 1999 46 46 0 6 10 6 0 18 6 0 2002 59 55 2 3 8 9 4 25 8 0 2008 57 57 0 6 5 2 0 36 8 0 2011 76 73 12 1 1 0 0 40 19 3 2014 62 61 7 8 3 1 0 30 12 1 2016 72 72 9 3 0 0 0 38 22 0 440 Total 1972 162 116 0 6 3 1 0 82 24 46 1975 248 192 2 18 11 7 0 125 29 56 1978 182 177 4 15 13 11 0 87 47 5 1980 272 254 7 24 15 8 2 147 53 16 1982 267 267 24 11 15 7 0 139 71 0 1988 211 191 2 20 16 2 1 106 45 19 1994/95 317 313 38 18 15 9 0 164 69 4 1996 338 338 20 20 31 10 0 164 93 0 1999 322 322 11 15 28 13 1 170 84 0 Page 13 of 26
2002 286 274 12 28 25 14 4 131 64 8 2008 313 312 10 26 24 6 0 208 38 1 2011 303 298 23 13 8 1 0 164 89 5 2014 316 315 19 23 10 10 0 171 82 1 2016 449 448 48 28 12 9 0 244 107 1 Survey Total Classified WMU Winter Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 439 Solomon 1972 30 20 0 0 3 2 12 3 10 1975 24 24 1 2 1 1 0 18 1 0 1978 27 27 0 1 2 3 0 16 5 0 1980 18 18 3 1 0 1 0 8 5 0 1982 33 33 1 1 2 2 0 15 12 0 1988 36 36 1 3 6 5 0 16 5 0 1994/95 50 50 7 4 7 5 0 17 10 0 1996 43 43 1 7 0 8 0 18 9 0 1999 31 31 1 1 8 6 1 10 4 0 2002 37 37 3 0 3 7 0 16 8 0 2008 25 25 2 1 2 7 0 7 6 0 2011 54 54 3 3 3 7 0 30 7 1 2012 50 49 4 5 2 4 0 24 10 1 2013 81** 81 5 3 3 17 0 34 19 0 2015 83** 83 6 3 6 5 0 42 21 0 2016 109** 103 6 7 5 4 0 49 32 6 ** Brule Solomon based on historic JNP survey unit Page 14 of 26
Survey Year Total Sheep Classified Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C WMU Winter Range WMU 438 Folding 1972 61 61 0 7 3 1 0 32 18 0 Mountain 1975 28 28 3 1 0 4 2 13 5 0 1978 80 53 15 6 11 0 12 9 27 1980 45 44 1 3 3 5 0 25 7 1 1982 96 96 2 7 4 8 0 48 27 0 1988 73 73 11 1 8 7 0 27 19 0 1994/95 70 66 3 7 2 8 0 32 14 4 1996 42 42 1 3 4 5 0 19 10 0 1999 30 30 0 2 5 5 0 10 8 0 2002 77 74 4 8 2 4 3 38 18 0 2008 42 42 0 2 4 6 0 21 9 0 2009 14 14 0 0 1 2 0 4 7 0 2011 39 39 4 2 2 4 0 20 7 0 2012 49 49 2 7 1 1 0 25 13 0 2013 54 54 4 0 2 11 0 25 12 0 2015 18 18 0 1 4 5 0 5 3 0 2016 9 9 0 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 438 Whitehorse 1972 223 223 0 42 0 13 0 117 51 0 Creek 1975 176 140 1 8 14 16 0 89 12 36 1978 245 158 0 29 11 26 0 47 45 87 1980 249 249 14 21 18 20 0 131 45 0 1982 327 327 19 14 20 27 0 173 74 0 Page 15 of 26
WMU 438 Winter Range Whitehorse Creek 1988 347 347 17 25 17 37 17 155 79 1994/95 367 366 16 8 24 34 183 101 1 1996 289 289 13 31 27 34 131 53 1999 138 138 3 3 26 27 52 27 2008 234 234 8 14 9 21 148 34 Survey Year Total Sheep Classified Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 2009 283 283 14 21 23 27 0 128 70 0 2011 277 266 29 24 12 19 0 114 68 11 2012 269 234 30 23 10 33 0 102 36 35 2013 197 193 11 16 12 36 1 77 40 4 2014 118 118 10 6 9 13 5 50 25 0 2015 223 217 12 14 19 14 0 105 53 6 2016 186 184 19 11 8 20 1 90 35 2 438 TOTAL 1972 284 284 0 49 3 14 0 149 69 0 1975 204 168 4 9 14 20 2 102 17 36 1978 325 211 0 44 17 37 0 59 54 114 1980 294 293 15 24 21 25 0 156 52 1 1982 423 423 21 21 24 35 221 101 1988 420 420 28 26 25 44 17 182 98 1994/95 437 432 19 15 26 42 0 215 115 5 1996 331 331 14 34 31 39 0 150 63 0 1999 168 168 3 5 31 32 0 62 35 0 2002 330 287 12 17 22 53 3 131 52 40 2008 276 276 8 16 13 27 0 169 43 0 2009 297 297 14 21 24 29 0 132 77 0 2011 316 305 33 26 14 23 0 134 75 11 2012 318 283 32 30 11 34 0 127 49 35 Page 16 of 26
2013 251 247 15 16 14 47 1 102 52 4 2014 118* 118 10 6 9 13 5 50 25 0 2015 241 235 12 15 23 19 0 110 56 6 2016 195 193 19 11 13 24 1 90 35 2 Survey Total Classified WMU Winter Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 437 Redcap 1972 96 96 0 19 5 2 0 48 22 0 1975 97 52 3 6 10 5 9 17 2 45 1978 91 86 1 14 12 23 0 18 18 5 1980 143 131 2 20 13 28 0 47 21 12 1982 200 200 8 5 34 35 0 73 45 0 1988 116 116 7 8 25 22 0 30 24 0 1994/95 200 197 2 9 22 32 3 93 39 0 1996 158 158 9 16 24 21 0 58 30 0 1997 153 151 6 27 13 20 0 59 28 0 1998 132 130 3 13 28 16 0 52 18 2 1999 118 118 2 8 22 7 0 55 24 0 2002 150 150 3 15 14 15 0 72 31 0 2008 96 96 7 10 3 8 0 53 15 0 2009 178 178 2 13 26 17 0 82 36 0 2011 185 185 13 17 12 20 0 80 43 0 2013 147 141 9 9 16 19 0 59 29 6 2015 108 108 6 6 12 13 0 51 20 0 2016 135 135 12 8 11 17 0 61 26 0 Page 17 of 26
Survey Total Classified WMU Winter Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 436 Ruby-Thistle 2011 87 87 13 3 0 0 0 52 19 0 2012 139 139 14 4 1 0 0 81 39 0 2013 88 87 10 5 0 0 0 50 22 1 2015 51 51 3 0 0 0 0 32 16 0 Survey Total Classified WMU Winter Range Year Sheep Base 1/4 1/2 3/4 legal U/C 446-436 Grand Total 1972** 1034 978 o 121 46 38 0 569 204 56 1975** 1030 859 13 74 69 61 11 532 99 171 native 1978 1119 929 16 115 68 96 0 413 221 190 range 1980 1375 1311 51 109 82 100 2 710 257 64 1982 1655 1655 119 77 139 113 2 809 396 0 1988 1391 1355 58 86 123 102 20 666 300 36 1994/95 1715 1706 110 94 133 116 3 858 392 9 1996* 870 870 44 77 86 78 0 390 195 0 1997* 153 151 6 27 13 20 0 59 28 0 1998* 132 130 3 13 28 16 0 52 18 2 1999*** 1000 963 30 46 109 79 2 476 223 35 2002 1580 1500 62 105 119 116 7 770 328 73 2008 965 962 32 71 66 66 2 595 132 1 2009* 1117 1117 40 85 96 83 0 575 238 0 2011 1698 1678 129 111 75 91 2 875 397 10 Page 18 of 26
2012* 507 471 50 39 14 38 0 232 98 36 2013* 567 556 39 33 33 83 1 245 122 11 2014* 1254 1130 114 85 63 51 6 557 254 124 2015* 483 477 27 24 41 37 0 235 113 6 2016* 1696 1639 138 103 117 73 6 870 332 57 * Limited area surveyed see table 3. **1972 and 1975 surveys were restructured to correspond to winter range designations. ***1999 results are not directly comparable due to Mount Stearn not being surveyed Table 5. Selected population parameters late winter 1972 2016 Census Zone Year % rams % ewes % lambs lambs:100 ewes % rams- % ewes % legal WMU 446 2009 22 63 15 24 26-74 4.7 2011 20 62 11 18 22-78 4.7 2014 25 54 21 39 32-68 2.9 2016 22 64 14 21 26-74 0.7 % lambs:100 Census Zone Year % rams % ewes lambs ewes % rams- % ewes % legal WMU 445 1972 35 49 16 33 42-58 4.7 1975 22 58 20 35 28-72 12.5 1978 28 53 19 35 35-65 11 1980 22 54 24 46 29-71 6.6 1982 39 46 15 33 46-54 8.2 1988 27 49 24 49 36-64 11.1 1994/95 28 51 21 42 35-65 4 1999 33 38 29 75 46-54 14.3 Dec. 2009 2010 21 53 26 49 28-72 3.2 Page 19 of 26
2015 29 52 19 37 56-44 17.4 2016 29 56 15 27 34-66 5.0 Census Zone Year % rams % ewes % lambs lambs:100 ewes % rams- % ewes % legal WMU 444 1972 13 64 23 36 17-83 2.3 1975 25 64 11 16 28-72 3.8 1978 24 53 23 42 29-71 2.6 1980 19 62 19 30 23-77 6 1982 27 50 23 46 35-65 3.5 1988 18 61 21 34 23-77 0.9 1994/95 27 52 21 40 34-66 5.9 2002 17 59 24 40 22-78 3.5 2009 26 53 21 39 33-67 6.7 2011 20 56 24 42 26-74 3.4 2014 27 49 24 49 36-64 1.2 2016 26 56 18 32 31-69 1.7 Census Zone Year % rams % ewes % lambs lambs:100 ewes % rams- % ewes % legal WMU 442 1972 25 59 16 27 30-70 5.3 1975 24 65 11 17 27-73 7.6 1978 24 53 23 44 31-69 8.0 1980 25 54 21 38 32-68 6.2 1982 26 49 25 51 34-66 5.4 Page 20 of 26
1988 24 55 21 39 30-70 4.8 1994/95 24 52 24 46 32-68 2.3 1999 21 56 23 41 27-73 5.9 2002 23 54 23 42 30-70 3.7 2008 26 62 12 19 30-70 7.1 2009 24 54 22 41 31-69 5.2 2011 22 52 26 49 30-70 5.8 2014 32 47 21 45 40-60 3.2 2016 28 53 19 36 35:65 3.0 Census Zone Year % rams % ewes % lambs lambs:100 ewes % rams- % ewes % legal WMU 440 1972 8 71 21 29 Oct-90 0.8 1975 20 65 15 23 24-76 3.6 1978 24 49 27 54 33-67 6.2 1980 21 58 21 36 26-74 3.1 1982 21 52 27 51 29-71 2.6 1988 21 55 24 42 28-72 1.0 1994/95 26 52 22 42 33-67 2.9 1996 24 49 27 57 33-67 3.0 1999 21 53 26 49 28-72 4.0 2002 29 48 23 49 38-62 5.1 2008 21 67 12 18 24-76 1.9 2011 15 55 30 54 21-79 0.3 2014 25 51 24 47 33-67 5.5 2016 22 54 24 44 28-72 2.0 Census Zone Year % rams % ewes % lambs lambs:100 ewes % rams- % ewes % legal WMU 439 1972 25 60 15 25 29-71 10 1975 21 75 4 6 22-78 4.2 Page 21 of 26
1978 22 59 19 31 27-73 11.1 1980 28 44 28 62 39-61 5.6 1982 18 46 36 80 28-72 6.1 1988 42 44 14 31 49-51 14 1994/95 46 34 20 59 58-42 10 1996 37 42 21 50 47-53 18.6 1999 55 32 13 40 63-37 19.4 2002 35 43 22 50 45-55 18.9 2008 48 28 24 86 63-37 28 2011 30 56 13 23 35-65 13 2012 31 49 20 42 38-62 8.2 2013 34 42 23 56 45-55 21 2015 24 51 25 50 32-68 6 Census Zone Year % rams % ewes % lambs lambs:100 ewes % rams- % ewes % legal WMU 438 1972 23 53 24 46 30-70 4.9 1975 29 61 10 17 32-68 11.9 1978 46 28 26 92 62-38 17.5 1980 29 53 18 33 35-65 8.5 1982 24 52 24 46 32-68 8.3 1988 34 43 23 54 44-56 10.5 1994/95 24 50 27 53 32-68 9.7 1996 36 45 19 42 44-56 11.8 1999 42 37 21 56 53-47 19.0 2002 36 46 18 40 44-56 18.5 2008 23 61 16 25 27-73 9.8 2009 30 44 26 58 40-60 9.8 2011 32 44 24 56 42-58 7.5 2012 37 45 18 39 46-54 12.0 Page 22 of 26
2013 38 41 21 51 48-52 19.0 2014 36 42 21 50 46-54 11.0 2015 29 47 24 51 38-62 8.1 2016 35 47 18 39 43-57 12.4 lambs:100 ewes % rams- % ewes Census Zone Year % rams % ewes % lambs WMU 437 1972 27 50 23 46 35-65 2.1 1975 63 33 4 12 66-34 9.6 % legal 1978 58 21 21 100 73-27 26.7 1980 48 36 16 45 57-43 21.4 1982 41 37 22 62 52-48 17.5 1988 53 26 21 80 67-33 19.0 1994/95 33 47 20 42 41-59 16.2 1996 44 37 19 52 54-46 13.3 1997 43 39 18 47 52-48 13.2 1998 46 40 14 35 53-47 12.3 1999 33 47 20 44 41-59 5.9 2002 31 48 21 43 39-61 10.0 2008 29 55 16 28 35-65 8.3 2009 34 46 20 44 42-58 9.6 2011 34 43 23 54 44-56 10.8 2013 38 42 20 49 47-53 13.5 2015 34 47 19 39 42-58 12.1 2016 36 45 19 43 44-56 12.6 Census Zone Year % rams % ewes % lambs lambs:100 ewes % rams- % ewes % legal Page 23 of 26
WMU 436 2011 18 60 22 37 24-76 0 2012 14 58 28 48 19-81 0 2013 17 57 25 44 23-77 0 2015 6 63 31 50 09 91 0 Census Zone Year % rams % ewes % lambs lambs:100 ewes % rams- % ewes % full curl Luscar & Gregg River Mine - 1982 21 51 28 54 29-71 0 Winter 1988 25 50 25 49 33-67 5.4 1994 53 32 15 45 62-38 23.8 1996 48 37 15 39 56-44 17.6 1997 52 41 7 18 56-44 27.1 1998 48 38 14 36 56-44 27.3 1999 45 37 18 50 55-45 29.2 2002 46 38 16 41 55-45 19.4 2008 43 41 16 38 51-49 8.3 2009 44 48 8 16 48-52 11.2 2011 42 48 10 22 47-53 6.8 2012* 36 52 12 24 40-60 5.5 2013 37 51 12 24 42-58 6.4 2014 36 54 9 18 40-60 10.1 2015 46 44 10 23 51-49 11.0 2016 Page 24 of 26
Appendix I. Late winter presence and composition of bighorn sheep on the Luscar and Gregg River Mines Census Zone (WMU 438). Data provided by Teck Coal Ltd. and Gregg River Mines Ltd., through Bighorn Wildlife Technologies Year Yearling 1/4 curl 1/2 curl 3/4 curl Full curl U/C Ewes Lambs Total 1982 5 3 1 22 12 43 1988 7 10 1 5 17 47 23 110 1994 13 24 62 80 108 49 336 1996 21 21 77 69 147 58 393 1997 15 22 65 111 167 30 410 1998 5 15 63 111 156 56 406 1999 26 13 39 143 179 90 490 2002 37 40 86 108 225 92 588 2008 55 55 116 105 78 385 147 941 2009 23 47 99 75 83 18 356 58 759 2011 44 30 117 91 54 381 82 799 2012* 16 22 38 43 22 208 48 397 2013 15 21 69 121 47 371 89 733 2014 14 26 58 78 67 0 360 63 666 2015** 10 11 46 96 52 0 208 48 471 2016 Class I Class II Class III ClassIV * Luscar Mine only ** April 22-26 Page 25 of 26
Yearlings added to ¼ curl for comparative or analytical purposes Page 26 of 26