A decreasing population of Woodland Caribou in British Columbia and Alberta

2012. Species at Risk: Woodland Caribou - Southern mountain populations. Parks Canada. Gatineau, Q.C. Available from: http://www.pc.gc.ca/nature/eep-sar/itm3/eep-sar3caribou.aspx (accessed January 2013)

 

 

When I was searching the web to find a species at risk that spiked my interest I stumbled upon the Woodland Caribou. I was drawn to this subspecies right away because of its intriguing story and overall beauty.  

 

 

                                          © Paul Sutherland

 

The Southern Mountain population of Woodland Caribou is listed under Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA) (Parks Canada 2012). The population in Banff does not exist anymore due to an avalanche, and the populations in Jasper, Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks are steadily decreasing in size. The population in the Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks consists of seven Woodland Caribou, in 1997 this population was around 100 (Parks Canada 2012).

 

The Woodland Caribou in the Southern Mountain regions do not have a migratory route like other Caribou. In Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks the Woodland Caribou during the winter move up the mountain and stand on packed snow to reach lichens high up in trees, where as in Jasper and Banff National Parks they move down the mountain and search for lichens underneath the snow (Parks Canada 2012).

                                          © M. Bradley

There are many reasons as to why these Woodland Caribou are decreasing in size. Firstly, an increase in deer and elk populations causes an increase in predator populations such as wolves. These wolves then compete for food, and if they cannot find food they move elsewhere and can end up in areas that caribou inhabit. Secondly, humans effect Woodland Caribou populations by hitting them with their vehicles and by creating unnatural paths within parks. Thirdly, if a large portion of habitat containing older trees were to be destroyed it would be hard for the population to find food because lichens only grow on older trees. Lastly, once a population is small it is more susceptible to decline or to be destroyed. The Banff population was already destroyed by an avalanche in 2009, and in Jasper there are two populations that consist of less than fifteen Caribou. (Parks Canada 2012)

 

 Volunteering for the Caribou Biologists in Jasper could be a potential conservation project. I believe our conservation biology class could participate in the recovery of Woodland Caribou populations.

 

If you aren't too busy take a look at this video below, I found it to be quite interesting.

 



 

Lastly, here are some interesting facts I found about Woodland Caribou that made me like them even more.

• When Woodland Caribou walk you can hear a clicking noise because their tendons slide over their bones in their feet 
•  Woodland Caribou are the only mammal that can live entirely off of lichens
•  Both males and females grow antlers
•  They can swim
  
  
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