Ivvavik National Park Muskox Survey, April 2011

Organization Responsible

Parks Canada, Western Arctic Field Unit (PCA)

Government of Yukon, North Yukon Regional Management (YG)

Partner Organizations 

Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee

Background 

Muskoxen are thought to have disappeared from the North Slope in the mid to late 1800s.  A “parent” population of muskoxen was introduced to the ANWR from Greenland, and it has been studied in depth since 1983.  Muskoxen from this herd were seen in the Yukon the same year they were reintroduced, and sightings of animals have slowly increased.  Starting in 1994, sightings of muskox in areas other than the Yukon North Slope have been more frequent.  A group of muskoxen has now established themselves in the Richardson Mountains. 

As recommended by WMAC(NS), YG and PCA collaborated on a 6 year research program from 1999 to 2005.  Field activities included deployment of satellite collars, annual aerial pre-calving surveys to estimate population size and composition, and annual summer surveys to estimate recruitment and composition.  Other related work during this 6 year program and afterwards included a school program on muskox ecology, data collection on activity budgets, population modeling, disease and parasite prevalence, and genetic relationships with other selected North American populations. 

WMAC(NS) continues work on a cooperative muskox management plan.  The 2010 draft of the plan suggests periodic population surveys be done at least every 5 years starting in 2012.  However staff from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game plan to repeat their 2006 survey on the Alaska side of the international border in April 2011.  As there is likely movement of animals between the Yukon and Alaska, there is strong incentive for carrying out a Yukon survey in the same year as the Alaskans.  Therefore, we propose to repeat the survey in Ivvavik National Park done in 2006 by the Alaskan agencies. 

Program Description 

To conduct the count, we would fly the same transects that staff from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game flew in 2006.  These transects, spaced about 3 miles apart, are closer together than the ones flown while the satellite collars were deployed.  As the last count was done 4 years ago, we propose flying this survey a little more intensely than in the past.  These transects also stop farther west than the area we flew during surveys from 1999 to 2005, however we seldom recorded muskox between the Babbage River and the Blow River during the March/April surveys.  Herschel Island Territorial Park will also be surveyed by flying at least one loop over the island. 

The total length of the transects is about 1,205 km.  The survey will be flown at an air speed of approximately 185 km/h (115 mph) and at an altitude of approximately 300-460 m (1,000-1,500 feet) above ground level. 

Muskoxen will be classified into calf and non-calf animals.  Where possible, photos of the groups will be taken so the classification can be verified.  We do not plan to do a helicopter-assisted ground composition count. 

Management Implications 

This is a periodic survey to estimate the pre-calving population size, as directed in the draft management plan.  Information gained is used to contribute to the current population status across its Alaska-Yukon-NWT range. 

Budget 

 $16,400 total for this survey and propose to split the cost between Government of Yukon and Parks Canada Agency IFA funds. 

 YG IFA funds:  $8,400

INP IFA funds: $8,000

Communication Plan 

• Consultations with Aklavik HTC will occur in January 2011. 
• A field summary report will be distributed in June 2011 and a final survey report will be distributed in the fall to all interested partners.
• Results will be presented at the next WMAC(NS), and AHTC meetings. 
• Results of the survey will be included in the 2011 Research and Monitoring Report for the Western Arctic National Parks as well as the quarterly WAFU update newsletter, both of which are distributed to all co-management partners..

Timeline 

Deliverables 

• A population estimate for the North Slope muskoxen population (generated in cooperation with Alaska)
• A field work report summarizing the results of the survey will be produced by June 2011.  Results will be presented at the next WMAC(NS), and AHTC meetings.