Stone’s Sheep Habitat Enhancement in B.C.: 600 hectares of habitat enhanced in 2024

Project Update 2024—Northeast British Columbia is home to nearly 50 percent of the world’s population of Stone’s sheep—making it imperative that habitat is maintained to sustain these iconic species.

Although 2024 has been another year of significant wildfires in northeast BC, in May 2024 we successfully enhanced ~600 hectares (1,400 acres) of Stone’s sheep habitat using prescribed fire. The resulting post-burn habitat will have improved forage quality and a reduction in dense shrub cover.
 

 

Before, during, and after the May 2024 prescribed fire.

 

Improving Habitat Across Stone’s Sheep Range

To date, prescribed burning conducted as part of the Wild Sheep Habitat Enhancement Program has resulted in ~760 hectares of sheep habitat restored and enhanced in northeast BC. Burns conducted to date have spanned across three study areas, providing improved habitat for several sheep populations across the region. Burns proposed for future years will continue to improve habitat across Stone’s sheep range in northeast BC. 

 

 

Post-Burn Monitoring

As new sites are burned, postburn monitoring of vegetation response, wildlife use, lamb recruitment, and sheep health is being completed. This year’s high-intensity burn resulted in a reduction in shrub cover and stimulated new grass growth, which will provide high-quality forage for sheep. Camera traps installed on burn sites are recording sheep use in pre- and post-burn.
 

New grass growth, 10 weeks after the burn. Stone's sheep rams foraging in the burn area four months post fire.

 

Lamb Recruitment

Since 2021, lamb recruitment surveys have been conducted to compare lamb survival in populations with and without access to burned habitat. In 2024, lamb recruitment in the Besa-Prophet study area was 40 lambs per 100 ewe-like sheep.
 

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Acknowledgements
Funding for this project is provided by Wild Sheep Society of BC, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Wild Sheep Foundation, Forest Enhancement Society of BC, North Peace Rod & Gun Club, and the University of Northern BC.