Click on a herd to learn more
Adapted from: Government of NWT (2018)
Caribou have long been vital to the survival of Indigenous peoples in the north; the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis.
Read moreThreats
Reasons for the drop in caribou populations are complicated. There is still some disagreement among scientific and Indigenous experts as to which factors are most important.
Management
It is often said that forms of wildlife management are mostly not about managing the animals, but about managing people. Some Indigenous peoples find it disrespectful to even talk about managing caribou. In that spirit, this section is largely about managing human interventions that affect caribou.
News and resources
Recently added resources
Continental synchrony and local responses: Climatic effects on spatiotemporal patterns of calving in a social ungulate
This paper looked at data from seven barren ground caribou herds, totalling more than 1200 animals over 15 years. The authors were trying to estimate the effects of changing climate on calving. The paper notes that, "...the ability to access preferred calving areas and the ability to synchronize births in time are critical for maintaining high barren-ground caribou abundances..." in concludes, "Overall, we detected considerable variability across years and across herds, but no significant trend for earlier calving by caribou, even as broad indicators of spring and snow phenology trend earlier."
(2023)
Usage: Non-commercial with attribution Format: web
Beverly and QaminirjuaqBarren-groundBathurstBluenose WestBluenose EastCape BathurstClimate changeSvalbard reindeer winter diets: Long-term dietary shifts to graminoids in response to a changing climate
Reindeer on the far northern Norwegian island of Svalbard were thought thrreatened by climate change. However, the animals seem to be thriving at the moment, and the answer is apparently a shift in diet.
(2022)
Usage: Non-commercial with attribution Format: web
Climate change