or ten years, between xxx and xxx, Ralph worked as the Wells Gray wildlife biologist. During that time, he conducted several seminal studies on the valley’s wildlife, especially its moose and caribou, while at the same time achieving an unparalleled understanding of its mammals. All during this period, and for decades afterwards, he kept a diary of his field observations.
It is to be hoped that his accumulated knowledge of the valley during its recovery from the great fire of 1926 will eventually be made available for the benefit of future researchers. A detailed summary of his life appears here [LINK TO FRANK’S BIOGRAPHY].
Forty-three of Ralph’s publications and reports incorporate fieldwork conducted in the Clearwater Valley:
Eastman, D.S. and R. Ritcey. 1987. Moose habitat relationships and management in B.C. Swed. Wildlf. Res. Supplement 1: 101–118.
Edwards, R.Y. and R.W. Ritcey. 1956. The migrations of a moose herd. Journal of Mammology 37: 486–494.
Edwards, R.Y. and R.W. Ritcey. 1958. Reproduction in a moose population. Journal of Wildlife Management 22: 261–268.
Edwards, R.Y. and R.W. Ritcey. 1959. Migrations of caribou in a mountainous area in Wells Gray Park, British Columbia. Canadian Field-Naturalist 73: 21–25.
Edwards, R.Y. and R.W. Ritcey. 1960. Foods of caribou in Wells Gray Park, British Columbia. Canadian Field-Naturalist 74: 3–7.
Edwards, R.Y. and R.W. Ritcey. 1967. The birds of Wells Gray Park. Unpublished report, B.C. Parks, Victoria. 37 pages.
Edwards, R.Y., J. Soos and R.W. Ritcey. 1960. Quantitative observations of epidendric lichens used as food by caribou. Ecology 41: 425–431.
Miller, R.G., R.W. Ritcey and R.Y Edwards. 1955. Live-trapping marten in B.C. Murrelet 36: 1–8.
Rausch, R.A. and R.W. Ritcey, 1961. Narcosis of moose with nicotine. Journ. Wildl. Mgmt. 25(3): 326–328.
Ritcey, C.J. 2021. Scattered memories of the Upper Clearwater Valley. First Choice Books, Victoria, BC. 207 pages.
Ritcey, C.J. and E. Ferguson. 2014. Pioneer Women of Wells Gray Park & the Upper Clearwater Valley. Self-published. ??? pages.
Ritcey, C.J. and E. Ferguson. 2015. Pioneer Women of Wells Gray Park & the Upper Clearwater Valley. Second Edition. Self-published. 72 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1952. Wildlife survey and research in Wells Gray Park, 1951. Unpublished report, B.C Forest Service, Victoria. 49 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1952. Wildlife survey and research in Wells Gray Park, Summer, 1952. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria. 23 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1953. Hunting season report – Wells Gray Park, 1952. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria. 34 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1953. Summer wildlife report – Wells Gray Park, 1953. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria. 25 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1953. Winter wildlife report – Wells Gray Park, 1952–1953. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service. 56 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1954. Hunting season report – Wells Gray Park, 1953. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria. 34 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1954. Hunting season report, 1954. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria.
Ritcey, R.W. 1955. Winter wildlife report – Wells Gray Park, 1953–1954. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria. 35 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1955. Report on live trapping and tagging moose and deer, winter, 1955, and on moose calf tagging, spring, 1954 and 1955. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria. 15 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1955. Grizzly bear studies in Wells Gray Park to September, 1955. Wildlife Sec. Report 51. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria.
Ritcey, R.W. 1955. Abundance and fall distribution of caribou in Wells Gray Park. Unpublished interim report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria. 6 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1956. Hunting season report – Wells Gray Park, 1955. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria. 19 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1957. Hunting season report – Wells Gray Park, 1956. Unpublished report, B.C. Forest Service, Victoria. 14 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1958. Predators in Wells Gray Park, 1950–1956. Unpublished report, B.C. Parks, Victoria. 21 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1961. A study of winter moose foods, Wells Gray Park, 1960–1961. Unpublished report.
Ritcey, R.W. 1965. A proposal for moose habitat management in Wells Gray Park. Unpublished report, B.C. Fish & Wildlife, Kamloops. 9 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1965. Ecology of moose winter range in Wells Gray Park, British Columbia. B.C. Fish and Wildlife Branch Report. 15 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1970. Caribou management and inventory in M.A. 12. Unpublished report, Fish and Wildlife Branch, Kamloops. 9 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1972. Post season classified moose counts, Kamloops Region. Unpublished report, Fish and Wildlife Branch, Kamloops. 2 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1974. Moose harvesting programs in Canada. Naturalist Canadien (Que.) 101: 631–642.
Ritcey, R.W. 1976. Caribou Management Plan – Region III. Unpublished report, Fish and Wildlife Branch, Kamloops. 15 pages + appendices.
Ritcey, R.W. 1981. Woodland caribou in the Thompson Nicola resource region. Unpublished report, B.C. Ministry of Environment. 18 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. 1982. Summer Caribou census. Unpublished report, B.C. Ministry of Environment, Kamloops.
Ritcey, R.W. 1982. Forest succession and wildlife in Wells Gray Provincial Park. British Columbia Land for Wildlife – Past, present and future. Pages 94–98. In Proc. Symp. B.C. Land for wildlife. Simon Fraser Univ. Burnaby, B.C.
Ritcey, R.W. 1983. Region 3 limited entry hunts. Unpublished report, B.C. Ministry of Environment, Kamloops.
Ritcey, R.W. and R.Y. Edwards. 1956. Guide to moose hunting in Wells Gray Park. B.C. Forest Service Publication B 44: 1–35.
Ritcey, R.W. and R.Y. Edwards. 1956. Trapping and tagging moose on winter range. Journal of Wildlife Management 20(3): 324–325.
Ritcey, R.W. and R.Y. Edwards. 1958. Parasites and diseases of the Wells Gray moose herd. Jour. of Mamm 39: 139–145.
Ritcey, R.W. and R.Y. Edwards. 1963. Grouse abundance and June temperatures in Wells Gray Park, British Columbia. Journal of Wildlife Management 27: 604–606.
Ritcey, R.W. and D.N. Jury. 1984. Summer caribou census – July 31 to August 3, 1984. Unpublished report, B.C. Min. of Environment.
Ritcey, R.W. and F.W. Ritcey. 1990. Wells Gray corridor wildlife viewing plan. Unpublished report to B.C. Parks, Kamloops. 23 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. and A. Stewart. 1985. Caribou census – Wells Gray Park (March 25 through March 29, 1985). Unpublished report to B.C. Parks, Kamloops. 11 pages.
Ritcey, R.W. and N.A.M. Verbeek. 1969. Observations of moose feeding on aquatics in Bowron Lake Park, British Columbia. Canadian Field-Naturalist 83(4): 339–343.