1. Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Kim Poole Wildlife Discipline Lead Aurora Wildlife Research Jess Dunford Wildlife Biologist Gartner Lee Limited

2. Wildlife VECs (issue-focused) Dolphin and Union caribou (muskoxen) Grizzly bear Wolverine Peregrine falcon (cliff-nesting raptors) Common eider (seabirds) Upland breeding birds

3. Ungulate Baseline Studies 14 Systematic surveys 2004-2006 –March 2006: 1,390 caribou (11,670 ±4,530) –April 2006: 1,666 caribou (13,987 ±9,266) Muskoxen; variable densities, generally low calf ratios Moose also observed in all seasons.

5. Eskers, Snow-Tracking and Small Mammals Surveys Snow-tracking survey in 2004 Aerial survey in 2005 to document potential carnivore dens 3 night live trapping program for voles, lemmings, shrews in 2004

6. Raptor Surveys 2004 to 2006 Surveys of prominent cliffs in the RSA Data collected on Occupancy/Productivity –Example from 2006 SpeciesOccupied Territories Peregrine Falcon20 Gyrfalcon 6 Golden Eagle11 Rough-legged Hawk11 Common Raven 1

8. Breeding Birds Stratified random survey transects completed in 2004 21 species identified on 133 transects (977 birds) Tall shrub and riparian areas had the highest density of birds

9. Waterfowl Aerial survey in 2004 along coastal areas –14 species –Up to 224 birds observed (July 17, 2004) Limited survey over inland lakes; very few waterfowl observations

11. Regional Data Sources Satellite Telemetry Data and Surveys: –Caribou, grizzly bear, muskoxen Regional databases –Raptors, den sites for carnivores Traditional Knowledge Harvest Statistics and Patterns Species at Risk Status Reporting –Caribou, wolverine, grizzly bear Regional Habitat Models –Caribou, wolverine, grizzly bear, breeding birds

16. Bathurst caribou calving is essentially completely beyond the RSA

17. Habitat Modelling Habitat modelling for grizzly bear, caribou, raptors, wolverine, common eider, upland breeding birds New Resource Selection Function model developed for caribou –winter range, DU herd New model built for common eider –habitat features (e.g., island size)

19. Impact Assessment WL1: Sensory disturbance and infrastructure will result in a loss of habitat, and may impact behaviour, distribution, and abundance WL2: Mortality risk and increased harvesting may impact populations WL3: Change in animal health due to contaminants

20. Mitigation and Monitoring Plan Detailed mitigation plans; mitigation by design Seamless fit from baseline into monitoring for ungulates, raptors DNA-based monitoring for carnivores Seabirds and upland breeding birds programs proposed (pre- development)

21. Wildlife environmental assessment (1) Dolphin and Union caribou –Habitat loss: moderate impact (disturbance to wintering caribou, uncertainty exists) –Population change: low impact Grizzly bear –Habitat loss: low impact –Population change: low impact (problem kills, hunter harvest – road access)

22. Wildlife environmental assessment (2) Wolverine –Habitat loss: low impact –Population change: moderate impact (problem kills [waste management], hunter harvest [restricted access]) Peregrine falcons –Habitat loss: moderate impact (direct disturbance on several nest sites: resilience) –Population change: negligible impact

23. Wildlife environmental assessment (3) Common eider –Habitat loss: low impact (limited boat activity) –Population change: negligible impact Upland breeding birds –Habitat loss: low impact (localized footprint) –Population change: negligible impact

24. Technical Issues (1) Justify Threshold Values –Specific threshold values consider accuracy of measurements; natural variability –Draft Total Allowable Harvest (TAH) Muskoxen as a VEC –Not raised by communities –Caribou proxy: mitigation, monitoring, assessment –Habitat loss: 0.6% of range –Direct mortality: none expected

25. Technical Issues (2) Contaminant Risk to Wildlife –Ecological Risk Assessment completed –Receptors chosen included: Caribou, wolverine, small mammals, Arctic hare, peregrine falcons –‘Worst-case’ scenario: entire life spend next to the mine site, foraging on the highest predicted (95 th percentile) contaminated vegetation – resulted in no adverse effects

26. Technical Issues (3) Shipping Concerns –Peary caribou: Almost all movement is in winter when no shipping takes place, shipping lanes are 10-20 km away from Arctic islands –No shipping when ice conditions may be suitable for animal crossing –Aerial surveys may take place

27. Technical Issues (4) Seabird Data –Breeding survey, small islands off dock site, and moulting survey –Migratory Birds – accidents or spills? Every ship has a Spill Containment Plan and Equipment

28. Technical Issues (5) Impacts to caribou movements –Road is on the winter range –Distribution ZOI assumes lesser movement across road Timing and extent of upland breeding bird and waterfowl data –New data will be collected as part of monitoring program (pre-development)