4. SPECIES SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
The purpose of this section is to provide some species specific guidelines for the inventory of ungulates in British Columbia. The emphasis is on surveys designed to assess absolute abundance and composition.
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Recommended method(s): Total counts
Plains bison are restricted to three drainages (Halfway, Sikanni, and Besa River) in northeast British Columbia (Northern Boreal Mountains, Boreal Plains, SWB and AT). The herd originated when animals escaped from a game farm on the Halfway River. The main population is located in the Sikanni Chief drainage. Favoured habitats are open grassland areas. Because they tend to remain in large groups, the bison are conspicuous and may be surveyed using total count methods.
Young of the year are easily distinguished by their very small size relative to adults and by their light brown pelage. Adult bulls can be distinguished from cows by much greater body size and by the massiveness of the horns. As with other species, young males may be easily confused with adult females and identification of yearling classes is dependent on the experience of the classifier.
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Copyright © 1997 Province of British Columbia
Published by the Resources Inventory Committee