Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; determination of endangered status for the population of woodland caribou found in Washington, Idaho, and Southern British Columbia

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The Service determines as endangered the population of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), sometimes known as the southern Selkirk Mountain herd, found in extreme northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and southern British Columbia. This isolated herd is the only population of caribou that still regularly occurs in the conterminous United States. The population has fallen to only about 30 individuals, a level that probably cannot sustain the herd much longer. At least one or two adults and subadults are being lost each year, calf survival is apparently low, and there is evidently no immigration from other herds in Canada. The population is jeopardized by such factors as poaching, habitat loss to timber harvesting and wildfires, collision with motor vehicles, and genetic problems through inbreeding. The population has already been listed as endangered on an emergency basis, but that coverage will expire shortly, and permanent protection of the Endangered Species Act is now required. The effective date of this rule is March 30, 1984.

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Reference Code: A84FWS02IDUS

Full Citation: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; determination of endangered status for the population of woodland caribou found in Washington, Idaho, and Southern British Columbia. Final Rule. Federal Register 49(41):7390-7394. (February 29, 1984)

Location: ANIMAL EF: RANGIFER TARANDUS CARIBOU