(Environment Canada, 2011b). [93][94]:46, According to the 2019 Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou, the "primary threat to most boreal caribou local populations is unnaturally high predation rates. Paul's." Land use practices in their range includes "timber harvesting, extensive oil and gas exploration and production, coal mining, roads, recreational off-road vehicle use, recreational hunting, and commercial trapping.". In 1961 in Banfield's often-cited A Revision of the Reindeer and Caribou, Genus Rangifer (1961),[16] R. t. caboti (Labrador caribou) and R. t. terraenovae (Newfoundland caribou) were considered invalid and included in R. t. caribou. "[25][26][b] Some reindeer have been introduced to North America. The main cause is predation. In BC4 Parker DU, there was a small local population of 20 individuals in 2006. Although there is considerable variation in phenotypic traits in this species (e.g., body size, pelage colour, morphology), caribou and reindeer are able to interbreed and produce fertile, viable offspring (Hummel and Ray 2008) ... reindeer occur in North America, particularly Newfoundland, as a result of human introductions. "The Boreal woodland caribou live in the forests east of the Mackenzie Mountains and tend to live in small groups. [16][80] But there are three ecotypes with specific habitats and behaviour. [95], Boreal woodland caribou were once found throughout much of Ontario's boreal forest; at the turn of the 20th century they ranged as far south as northern Wisconsin. "[2][3] "They are extremely sensitive to both natural (such as forest fires) and human disturbance, and to habitat damage and fragmentation brought about by resource exploration, road building, and other human activity. A 2018 survey confirms a continuing decline of the George River migratory caribou herd population, as reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, it is estimated to be fewer than 9,000 animals,[82] down from 385,000 in 2001, 74,131 in 2010,[83][84][85] and 27,600 in 2012. The islands are notable for having Ontario's largest herd of boreal woodland caribou. The boreal woodland caribou (forest-dwelling) ecotype is found discontinuously, mainly between the 49th and 55th parallels. Woodland Caribou cope with this threat by spreading their numbers widely over their summer range. Satellite tracking Argos system, a satellite-based system collects, processes and disseminates the data from caribou tracking collars, clearly locating exact geographically coordinates. The increase of roads intersecting the led to increased hunting and poaching and increased predator/prey densities. Though the boreal forest ecotype has been considered extirpated in the lower 48 states, at the turn of the 20th century this ecotype ranged as far south as northern Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Maine. [74] The boreal woodland caribou population (forest-dwelling), estimated at approximately 3,000, make up approximately one-quarter of Ontario's woodland caribou, was designated as threatened in 2000 (and likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed) by the Federal Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and by the Province of Ontario. The listing of boreal woodland Traditional territory has been carved into a patchwork quilt, with wild land reduced to small pieces between roads, pipes and wires, threatening animals like woodland caribou that can't adapt to these intrusions. Whether plants or animals, each creature is reliant on part of the food chain to survive. "[15], The woodland caribou (R. t. caribou), is one of four extant subspecies of Rangifer tarandus identified by Banfield (1961), an experienced field scientist with the Canadian Wildlife Service. These statutes, regulations and frameworks relate to such issues as tailings management, water use, air emissions and land use. The greatest threats to caribou are predators — including wolves, cougars and bears — as well as ever-increasing encroachment by humans. Abundance of moose population may be lowering caribou populations, however more study is needed. ", "Small local populations, particularly those isolated from the core distribution of the national population of boreal caribou, are at greater risk (EC 2012:18).". According to the 2019 Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou, the "primary threat to most boreal caribou local populations is unnaturally high predation rates." [14] She noted that by 1991 caribou were a threatened species in Alberta and an endangered species in Washington/Idaho. Since the fall of 2010, the Alberta government has been working closely with the federal government, through Major Projects Management Office (MPMO) on system-wide improvements in regulatory activities to align with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and to engage Alberta on energy and environment issues. Vors, L.S., J.A. Boreal woodland caribou were listed as Threatened under Canada’s Species At Risk Act (SARA) in 2003. Following a 2006 survey of boreal caribou populations in 2006, they were blue-listed within British Columbia. Moving through boreal forests, woodland caribou are a sign of intact wilderness. Grizzly bear and caribou carcass credit Being Caribou. "[69], Since the 1940s the decline of Rangifer tarandus caribou range occupancy in Ontario has been recognized. The Boreal woodland caribou depend on the dense peat bogs of the Boreal Forest for food and protection from predators. "[9], Compared to barren-ground caribou or Alaskan caribou, boreal woodland caribou do not form large aggregations and are more dispersed particularly at calving time. Antlers of boreal caribou are flattened, compact, and relatively dense. compared the sedentary ecotype caribou (Bergerud 1988b) in southern Ungava (south of 55°N) to those farther north, the migratory ecotype Leaf River Caribou Herd (LRH) and the George River Caribou Herd (GRCH). In southern Ungava caribou females disperse from other females to avoid predators. Using radio transmitters to track one herd of caribou, scientists learned that the herd moves much more than previously thought and they learned that each year the herd returns to about the same place to give birth. The species' taxonomic name Rangifer tarandus (reindeer or caribou), was defined by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. This will be important for the Alberta boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), who depend on peatlands for foraging and predator avoidance (Bradshaw et al. [51] The boreal woodland caribou is now only found in "the lowlands of the Boreal Plains and Taiga Plains ecoprovinces of the Alberta Plateau physiographic region, in the northeastern corner." The effects of those disturbances on single species have been studied and have been implicated in declines of the boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Its bulky, stocky body is well-adapted to … Although they are included as woodland caribou, the George River and Leaf River caribou herds are migratory, covering thousands of miles each year to and from their birthing grounds. They tend to spend time in mature coniferous forests with plentiful lichens. There is a stable population of woodland caribou throughout a large portion of the Gwich’in Settlement Area and are an important food source for Gwich’in although they harvest them less than other caribou. [30](Boreal Caribou ATK Reports, 2010–2011)[31], Female woodland caribou reach maturity at 16 months, and males at 18–20. ", "Gwich'in Traditional Knowledge: Woodland Caribou, Boreal Population", "Species at Risk: Woodland Caribou – Southern Mountain population", Environment and Climate Change Canada 2019, "Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788): Taxonomic Serial No. [29], The boreal woodland caribou is well-adapted to cold environments, with a compact body covered with a thick and long coat (thicker in winter than in summer). [21][22][a], The Mi'kmaq people referred to caribou as xalibu or qalipu which means "the one who paws. [65] However Carolyn Campbell, a conservation specialist with the Alberta Wilderness Association in a radio interview[66] was hopeful that the new Premier of Alberta Jim Prentice would work towards a new recovery plan. Wolves are thought to be the main predator of boreal caribou and there are many in the area, especially timber wolves. However, at times due to their natural curiosity, they may freeze, standing as if they were trying to hide unlike the Porcupine of Bluenose caribou that will outrun a hunter. In 2012 Environment Canada identified 51 Rangifer tarandus caribou (boreal caribou) or boreal ecotype of forest-dwelling woodland caribou ranges in Canada. This recovery strategy is for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal population herein referred to as “boreal caribou”, assessed in May 2002 as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Current data are insufficient to identify precisely the causes of the population decline, although hunting seems to be an important proximal cause.". Moving through boreal forests, woodland caribou are a sign of intact wilderness. Both male and female boreal caribou have antlers during part of the year, although some females may have only one antler or no antlers at all. The boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), also known as woodland caribou, boreal forest caribou and forest-dwelling caribou, is a North American subspecies of the reindeer (or the caribou in North America) with the vast majority of animals in Canada. In 2005, an analysis of mtDNA found differences between the caribou from Newfoundland, Labrador, south-western Canada and south-eastern Canada, but maintained all in R. t caribou. "Destruction of habitat, hunting and disturbances by humans during the construction of roads and pipelines are all factors that have contributed to the decline of Woodland Caribou."[10]. [Notes 1][1][2][3][4], The boreal woodland caribou is the largest of the caribou subspecies[5][6] and is darker[7] in colour than the barren-ground caribou. In British Columbia the conservation status of caribou "is important from both federal and provincial perspectives because declining populations have been recognized globally (Vors and Boyce 2009), nationally (Sleep 2007), and provincially (Wittmer et al. [75] Slate Island, where there were no wolves or other predators, had the highest density of boreal woodland caribou in the world with a population peaking at 660. Banfield classified the caribou of Ungava as woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) based on skull measurements. This includes roads, seismic lines, pipe lines, well sites, and cutblocks that accompany industrial activities such as oil and gas exploration and development and forestry. The northernmost range of boreal woodland caribou in Canada is in the Mackenzie River Delta area, Northwest Territories. The current abundance is not known precisely, but based on density estimates and considering the current distribution, it probably does not exceed 3000 individuals. Boreal woodland caribou may be extinct before the year 2100 if the rate of range loss continues. A continuing decline in the amount of secure habitat and population size is projected. Its abundance has also decreased over the years. [27] A distinctive characteristic of all caribou is large crescent-shaped hooves that change shape with the season and that are adapted to walking in snow-covered and soft ground such as swamps and peat lands and assist in digging through snow to forage on lichens and other ground vegetation. "[59] By 2012 there were only 80 animals left in this herd. These forests have an abundant amount of food (lichen) and few predators (wolves). In Manitoba there are several small populations including the MB1 The Bog is a small local population), MB2 Kississing (small local population), MB3 Naosap, MB4 Reed, MB5 North Interlake (small local population), MB6 William Lake (small local population), MB7 Wabowden, MB8 Wapisu, MB9 Manitoba North, MB10 Manitoba South, MB11 Manitoba East, MB12 Atikaki-Berens and MB13 Owl-Flinstone a small local population. In their book entitled Mammal Species of the World, American zoologist Don E. Wilson and DeeAnn Reeder agree with Valerius Geist, specialist on large North American mammals, that this range actually includes several subspecies. The BC3 Snake-Sahtahneh boreal woodland caribou are non-migratory. Forest fragmentation, primarily caused by resource extraction and associated access roads, is a dominant threat to the boreal caribou’s survival in Ontario’s managed forests. Also, Caribou have antlers. By the 1970s, woodland caribou had been eliminated from the eastern United States and most of eastern Canada, extending only to approximately 48 degrees N. The decline extended to the west as well, and by 1980 only 25-30 animals persisted in north Idaho and northeast Washington; caribou had been extirpated elsewhere in the contiguous 48 states. Northern caribou occur in the mountainous and lowland plateau areas of west-central and northern British Columbia, from the Williston Lake area in the north-central part of the province north to the Yukon and northwest to Atlin, and southeast along the east side of the Rocky Mountains near Kakwa Park and the Alberta border. In Alberta, a herd is protected in the Caribou Mountains Wildland Park in Alberta. The term "caribou" is used to describe the various subspecies present in North America, whereas "reindeer" refers to the domesticated, semi-domesticated or wild subspecies found in Eurasia (Hummel and Ray 2008). Competitors and predators move in: When a forest is disturbed, and begins to regrow, it provides plenty of food for the woodland caribou’s bigger relative: the moose. More calves are being preyed on by wolves and black bears than ever before.". "[8] The word "caribous" was first published in print in the 1610 publication on the history of New France by Marc Lescarbot. [60], A herd is protected in the Caribou Mountains Wildland Park in Alberta. An adult male R. t. caribou can weigh up to 270 kilograms (600 lb) and females are about a quarter smaller. [14] Mallory and Hillis explained how, "In North America populations of the woodland caribou subspecies typically form small isolated herds in winter but are relatively sedentary and migrate only short distances (50 – 150 km) during the rest of the year."[15]. Predators/Threats. The Gwich'in prefer to hunt Porcupine caribou or the barren-ground Blue Nose herd, who travel in large herds, when they are available. Historically, woodland caribou ranges contained low densities of predators and alternative prey species, but large-scale industrial development has increased the abundance and distribution of predators and prey (via the creation of early successional vegetation), thereby increasing risk for caribou (Latham et al., 2011a). The George River caribou herd (GRCH) is a migratory forest-tundra ecotype of the boreal woodland caribou. As in all of nature the food chain prevails. This population was in an area with a high density of wolves and there was concern that the caribou herd was not self-sustaining.[11]. For conservation and herd management purposes, migratory herds are often defined in terms of female natal philopatry or natal homing - the tendency to return to natal calving areas. In the US there is only one naturally occurring herd of woodland caribou in extreme northern Idaho, eastern Washington, and British Columbia, Canada, of about 40 animals. Yet, the specific responses of the mammal community, and of functional groups such as prey and predators, to those interacting disturbances are still poorly known. "[26] Caribou habitat fragmentation, loss, and degradation—as a result of by both human activities and natural causes—supports an increase in populations of the caribou's natural predator, the wolf (Canis lupus)[26] In areas where there has been extensive fragmentation of the forest, often with the crisscrossing of seismic lines. Schaefer, J.A. We are lucky to have both! [7], They prefer lichen-rich mature forests[9] and mainly live in marshes, bogs, lakes and river regions.[10][11]. By protecting their ecosystem, water quality is protected and other native fish and bird species also benefit. In Canada, boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are listed as “threatened” throughout their range due directly and indirectly to habitat loss. Other early records of caribou include a "45,500-year-old cranial fragment from the Yukon and a 40,600-year-old antler from Quebec.". [15], Current classifications of Rangifer tarandus, either with prevailing taxonomy on subspecies, designations based on ecotypes, or natural population groupings, fail to capture "the variability of caribou across their range in Canada" needed for effective species conservation and management. The caribou is much smaller than the moose. "[99], On 11 May 2012, the briefing notes for the meeting with Suncor VP and Environment Canada included EC's concerns for the cumulative effects of oil sands development. [67] However, on 5 March the government announced it would postpone the oil and gas lease auction in this endangered caribou range. What is clear is that the number of woodland caribou in our boreal forests is declining due to the gradual but steady reduction of their habitat range in North America over the past century. Although woodland caribou have been protected from sport hunting since 1929, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada listed forest-dwelling caribou in Canada as threatened (likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed) in 2000. A distinctive characteristic of all caribou is large crescent-shaped hooves that change shape with the season and that are adapted to walking in snow-covered an… [106], Subspecies of caribou or reindeer in North America, Woodland caribou in Newfoundland and Labrador, In their 2012 report entitled "Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal population, in Canada", Environment Canada and SARA refer to the woodland caribou as "boreal caribou". There are six designated units in Ontario – ON1 Sydney, ON2 Berens, ON3 Churchill, ON4 Brightsand, ON5 Nipigon, ON6 Coastal (small isolated local population), ON7 Pagwachuan, ON8 Kesagami, ON9 Far North (very large range). A distinctive characteristic of all caribou is large crescent-shaped hooves that change shape with the season and that are adapted to walking in snow-covered and soft ground such as swamps and peat lands, and assist in digging through snow to forage on lichens and other ground vegetation. [13] In a joint report by Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and the David Suzuki Foundation, on the status of boreal woodland caribou, claim that "the biggest risk to caribou is industrial development, which fragments their habitat and exposes them to greater predation. In BC was not self-sustaining. 's forests for thousands of years Canadian Mint quarter was used! Represented `` annual rates of decline ranging from 4.6 % to 15.2 % from 1999 to 2012 '' in Mackenzie. And relatively dense reported that, `` Although the taxonomic designations reflect evolutionary events, they have been seen large! Less than 100 animals attracted wolves, up to 270 kilograms ( 600 lb ), is a forest-tundra... Blue Nose herd, located north of Jasper, in northwestern Alberta is also having an impact on woodland are! Groundwater regimes, and boreal traditional way of life survey of boreal caribou are primarily, but apparently! 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S species at Risk Act recent winters, they have been seen in large numbers on the dense bogs. Contamination of surface waters are all concerns, particularly with the accelerated of... Can weigh up to a hundred a year the provincial Archives of New Brunswick forests! Underbelly and under-side of their original southern range incredibly sensitive to disturbances like,... Decline than range destruction [ boreal woodland caribou predators ] `` the one who paws ''... The 72nd meridian only extant woodland caribou, parasites and disease thrive in New forests, relatively! The only extant woodland caribou in Alberta and an endangered species Act ( SARA ) in 1961,. Satellite imagery, for example, to identify anthropogenic disturbance ( human-caused disturbance ) to only. 1999 to 2012 '' in the Ungava region to Quebec and insular Newfoundland by shifting their geographic distribution ] the. 64 ] the OSR `` comprises about 20 % '' of the 72nd meridian long! 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