caribou today
At one time, barren-ground caribou herds were estimated to number close to a million animals in the Northwest Territories. Recently, in an effort at scientific accuracy, one herd – the Bathurst, has been sub-divided into three herds, Bluenose East, Bathurst and Ahiak.
Unfortunately, surveys of the resulting herds have not been carried out in a timely manner, so government estimates of dramatic declines in the newly defined herds are not subject to confirmation. 2006 estimates totaled 490,000 barren-ground caribou across the NWT. In addition, some animals from the Ahiak, the Beverly and the Qamanirjuaq herds spend at least part of the year in the Northwest Territories. Add those to the NWT herds and there could be as many as 600,000 animals in the Northwest Territories at any one time.
The barren-ground caribou are not in danger of disappearing. It is likely they number in the hundreds of thousands today in the Northwest Territories. However, caribou scientists are concerned that the remnant Bathurst herd is in danger of disappearing. As a result the Government of the Northwest Territories has imposed a temporary ban on hunting the Bathurst caribou herd.
Although counts of caribou harvests were carried out in the 1980s and 1990s, no accurate surveys are being conducted today. Current government estimates place the harvest at some 7000 caribou (5000 females, 2000 males). This estimate is about a third of what was reported a decade ago. In comparison, the caribou outfitters were permitted 503 tags for bulls in 2009, and harvested just 223.
The Tlicho elders, Caribou Migration and the State of Their Habitat, 2001, noted that caribou distribution changed several times over a period of 70 years. Minor alterations in the caribou range appear to occur every three to five years, followed by a relatively sudden and major change in their distribution, which then stabilizes for a decade or more.
The Bathurst Caribou Herd Decline Draft Technical Report, December 2009, agrees with the insights of the elders. In addition, the report suggests that a large part of the Bathurst herd’s apparent decline could be the result of natural variations in weather and forage quality. Weather on the calving grounds, and forest fires in the winter range are thought to have had an impact on the size of the herd. Fires have severely damaged the lichen-rich open forest that some barren-ground caribou prefer for winter feeding. Diamond mining does not appear to be having a significant impact on the herd’s range.
Modern transportation and communications make it possible to locate and harvest caribou even when they change their range. This can lead to dramatic declines in herd numbers. As an example, 7000 caribou would represent just two percent of a herd of 350,000. However, if current estimates of a herd of just 32,000 animals are correct, a harvest of 7000 caribou might equal almost a quarter of the Bathurst herd.
Compounding the problem, when fewer calves survive, eventually there are fewer adult cows, and therefore fewer calves are born each year. Scientists argue the herd cannot produce enough calves to compensate for the current harvest, and without action, the Bathurst herd will decline further or disappear altogether. If harvests are restricted, and weather conditions allow good calf survival, the scientists speculate the herd will start to recover in a few years.
