The Reaction of Barren-Ground Caribou to Aircraft

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The responses of barren-ground caribou to fixed-wing aircraft and to helicopters were observed in the northern Yukon and Alaska. Effects of aircraft altitude, type of aircraft, season and terrain were determined together with the activity and size of group of the caribou. Panic reactions or strong escape reactions were observed in a high percentage of all groups when aircraft flew at altitudes of less than 60 metres. Flying at a minimum aircraft altitude of 150 metres during spring and fall migrations, and 300 metres at other periods, would prevent the caribou reacting in the ways most immediately injurious to them. R h U M k

Management stress in reindeer

“…Overstraining when trying to escape is bound to contribute to the kind of pathological lesions found. It has been reported earlier that lowflying aircraft provokes a strong escape on panic response (Calef et al, 1976;Miller 8C Gunn, 1979). When this effect is used in herding the animals, the response may be severe mental and exertional stress, especially when escape attempts are hindered by snow, and when deep snow also prevents early escape.…”

Ecological Risk Assessment Framework for Low-Altitude Overflights by Fixed-Wing and Rotary-Wing Military Aircraft

“…During spring and fall migration periods, barren-ground caribou responses are greater than during calving (Calef et al 1976). Vegetation type did not affect response of barren-ground caribou (Calef et al 1976) but did determine distances that mountain sheep moved following overflights (Bleich et al 1994). …”

“…(Platt 1977, Awbrey andBowles 1989) time to habituation versus sound pressure or distance to aircraft avoidance behavior reduced with habituation of nesting redtailed hawks to helicopter activity (Andersen et al 1989) probability of reproductive impact, given frequency of overflight probability of nesting and fledging success for overflightinduced flushing of raptors, adjusted for habituation (Awbrey and Bowles 1989) waterfowl probability of response versus several variables probability of flight response from flock of brant, based on altitude, lateral distance, noise, aircraft type, aircraft type times altitude, aircraft noise times lateral distance (Ward et al 1999) duration of response versus flock size logistic relationship between flock size of molting brant and duration of disturbance response (Derksen et al 1992) probability of response versus habituation proportion of overflights during which black ducks reacted versus reaction rate and days of exposure when habituation appeared to occur (Conomy et al 1998 (Maier et al 1998) daily time barren-ground caribou spend resting in late winter, negatively related to time-averaged noise level (Maier et al 1998) daily distance moved by post-calving barren-ground caribou correlated to SEL for loudest overflight of day (Maier et al 1998) level of response versus altitude percentages of barren ground caribou displaying behavioral responses at different overflight altitudes (Calef et al 1976) level of response versus frequency of overflights woodland caribou calf survival (no. survey periods that cow was accompanied by calf) negatively correlated with number of jet overflights reported < 1 km from an animal's location per day (relationship significant during the calving and immediate postcalving periods for the females known to have calved and for all females) (Harrington and Veitch 1992) number of resting bouts of barren-ground caribou related to number of overflights (Maier et al 1998) mean duration of resting bouts of barren-ground caribou negatively related to number of overflights (Maier et al 1998) response related to behavior prior to overflight traveling and feeding caribou were similar in their level of response; caribou at river crossings were more reactive than traveling or feeding animals, and resting animals were less reactive (Calef et al 1976) responses of caribou and muskoxen depend on previous activity of animals (Miller and Gunn 1979) more rapid running reaction of caribou and longer duration when animals walking prior to overflight, compared to animals feeding and standing or lying (Harrington and Veitch 1991) level of effects versus habituation bighorn sheep and mule deer habituate to low-level aircraft noise with...…”

“…Barren-ground caribou at river crossings were most reactive to overflights, followed by traveling and feeding animals, and followed by resting animals (Calef et al 1976). Woodland caribou ran further and for longer periods of time if they were initially walking, compared to animals that were resting, standing, or feeding (Harrington and Veitch 1991).…”

Effects of simulated aircraft noise on heart rate and behavior of desert ungulates

“…Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) exhibited strong panic responses to fixed-wing aircraft flying 5152 m but did not respond as strongly to helicopters (Calef et al 1976).…”