Viewpoint: More ancient Interior rainforest, home to caribou, threatened – Eagle Valley News

Three years ago, East Kooteney forest campaigner Eddie Petryshen with the environmental group Wildsight, brought to attention logging proposed in the Upper Seymour watershed.

Thanks to his efforts and opposition from First Nations and the public, these plans were shelved. Now there is a new proposal to log in the same area by forest companies Stella Jones and Pacific Woodtech. This area is also key habitat for the endangered mountain caribou that spend part of the year here feeding on shrubs and lichens.

The major threat to these caribou is from habitat loss and alteration, while the immediate threat is predation by wolves that follow the moose who are attracted by the feed available in fresh cutblocks and young tree plantations. This area was logged over 30 years ago and the planted spruce trees have grown tall and filled out, reducing the feed for moose, thus making the area safer for caribou.

Read More: https://www.eaglevalleynews.com/columns/viewpoint-more-ancient-interior-rainforest-home-to-caribou-threatened-7462755