With only 10 females left, the Central Selkirk herd of southern mountain caribou is critically small and could become extinct within a few years. As the southernmost herd of this ecotype, these animals are uniquely important, and their future depends entirely on sustained recovery actions.

Maternity penning is one of the most effective tools we have to support this herd. Its purpose is to protect pregnant cows and their newborn calves from predation during the most vulnerable weeks of their lives. Inside the pen, animals also benefit from high quality nutrition and veterinary care.

The Arrow Lakes Caribou Society built a maternity pen in 2021 to support the recovery of the Central Selkirk herd. Now in its fifth year of operation, the maternity pen has become a cornerstone of the recovery strategy for this herd. Each winter, pregnant cows are brought into the pen, cared for and monitored, and then released with their calves in July once the calves are strong enough to return to the mountains. This annual effort works alongside habitat protection and predator prey management to give the herd a real chance at long term recovery.

While the maternity pen is supported by grants and generous in kind contributions, these aren’t enough to sustain annual operations. Donations through this GoFundMe provide the essential support that allows the pen to run each year.

How Your Support Helps

Your contribution directly supports:

• Preparing and maintaining the maternity pen each year so cows and calves have a safe, predator free place to thrive

• Providing high quality feed, veterinary care, and daily monitoring to ensure every cow and calf stays healthy throughout the season

• Supporting the field staff that make this complex conservation project possible

About the Arrow Lakes Caribou Society (ALCS)

The caribou maternity pen is operated by the Arrow Lakes Caribou Society (ALCS), a community driven organization based in Nakusp, British Columbia. ALCS is dedicated to the recovery of the Central Selkirk herd of southern mountain caribou and works toward transparent, cooperative, and evidence based land use planning that respects both ecological needs and community values.

ALCS brings together local user groups, government agencies, Indigenous partners, scientists, and conservation organizations to ensure that decisions affecting caribou habitat are informed by both science and local knowledge. Community involvement — through volunteer work, education, research partnerships, and open communication — is central to ALCS’s mission.

Thank you for helping protect the future of the Central Selkirk caribou.

For more information about the Arrow Lakes Caribou Society, visit our website: www.arrowlakescaribousociety.com