The George River caribou herd is still vulnerable

Thomas D'Arcy McGee

Thomas D'Arcy McGee

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The George River caribou herd is still vulnerable — but the newest census has cause for optimism

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/george-river-caribou-1.6664284

With the large number of people in the north with firearms it is no longer sustainable to hunt cariboo. Exactly, how many cariboo have to be in the herd before they can be hunted again? The herd was over 800,000 now down to below 20,000 that is quite a disgrace!

TDM
 
I'm going to do some more reading on this. I haven't been following it close but the numbers are increasing even though the herd size has dropped drastically. Is there a specific cause for the decline or is it a combination of multiple factors like disease, predation, habitat changes, etc., or something else? It's definitely a bellwether for something happening in the north.
 
Certainly there are some very human factors going on that fly in the face of conservation. But there are some tremendous changes that are beyond any human control: elders for many decades pointing out the windswept snowbanks from prevailing winds are no longer a viable visual navigation aide along the ice ridges and frozen open expanses.

Also mysteriously black bears have moved into areas of Labrador. Areas that historically used to hold polar bears only. Some kind of strangeness going on?
 
Stuff like this doesn't help. This is just one video of one incident, and yes I know it's a different animal. But CN rail does #### like this all the time. We live in the day an age of drones. There is no reason why they can't heard these dumb animals off the tracks instead of killing 80% of them. When it comes to declining numbers, it tends to all ways come down to large Corporations or government actions leading to mass die offs. I realize you can't avoid hitting animals, but killing herds like this with zero attempt to avoid it should be illegal. A few drones, in the air identifying large herds, and then sending crews to herd them away from the track should be the norm. The only thing stopping them is they don't want to spend the money.

 
changes of traditionnal migration routes due to the lack of food, new reservoirs created, not enough predation on predators (wolf protected due to james bay agreement protocol), new born caribou with at least 20% less weight than previous, diseases and of course hunting without really a lot of control i guided there i have seen the decline within less than 3 years ... so we were putting back report but that the time the outfitters were the one setting up their own quotas ...

on another note a resident was able to take 8 caribous a year between the fall and winter seasons :calf female or male ...
 
Ribstaylor said:
Stuff like this doesn't help. This is just one video of one incident, and yes I know it's a different animal. But CN rail does #### like this all the time. We live in the day an age of drones. There is no reason why they can't heard these dumb animals off the tracks instead of killing 80% of them. When it comes to declining numbers, it tends to all ways come down to large Corporations or government actions leading to mass die offs. I realize you can't avoid hitting animals, but killing herds like this with zero attempt to avoid it should be illegal. A few drones, in the air identifying large herds, and then sending crews to herd them away from the track should be the norm. The only thing stopping them is they don't want to spend the money.

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Not a lot of railways in caribou country.
 
Ribstaylor said:
Stuff like this doesn't help. This is just one video of one incident, and yes I know it's a different animal. But CN rail does #### like this all the time. We live in the day an age of drones. There is no reason why they can't heard these dumb animals off the tracks instead of killing 80% of them. When it comes to declining numbers, it tends to all ways come down to large Corporations or government actions leading to mass die offs. I realize you can't avoid hitting animals, but killing herds like this with zero attempt to avoid it should be illegal. A few drones, in the air identifying large herds, and then sending crews to herd them away from the track should be the norm. The only thing stopping them is they don't want to spend the money.

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No reason? Try money. It would take a huge investment in equipment and manpower bybthe railroads to even attempt your idea. Way, way cheaper to clean a few animal carcasses off the locos. - dan
 
dan belisle said:
No reason? Try money. It would take a huge investment in equipment and manpower bybthe railroads to even attempt your idea. Way, way cheaper to clean a few animal carcasses off the locos. - dan
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Or slow down and let them cross ?Saw this many times when I trapped up the Dempter Hy way. Local guys would go weeks and not hit anything than the out of towner's show up hit 20 plus in 1 group?looked like i have a bush bar let's go and 20 plus in a heard gone.These people should be fired.I don't think you You hit anything 20 plus Without trying?
 
hunter89 said:
Or slow down and let them cross ?Saw this many times when I trapped up the Dempter Hy way. Local guys would go weeks and not hit anything than the out of towner's show up hit 20 plus in 1 group?looked like i have a bush bar let's go and 20 plus in a heard gone.These people should be fired.I don't think you You hit anything 20 plus Without trying?
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so true.
 
hunter89 said:
Or slow down and let them cross ?Saw this many times when I trapped up the Dempter Hy way. Local guys would go weeks and not hit anything than the out of towner's show up hit 20 plus in 1 group?looked like i have a bush bar let's go and 20 plus in a heard gone.These people should be fired.I don't think you You hit anything 20 plus Without trying?
Click to expand...

Slowing down costs money, and do you have any idea how long it takes to slow down a loaded freight train? No, cheaper to hit the animals. - dan
 
Canadian caribou species wins Endangered Species Act protection

https://www.courthousenews.com/canadian-caribou-species-win-endangered-species-act-protection/

(CN) — Just in time for Christmas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday added two species of caribou or “reindeer” to its list of federally protected species under the Endangered Species Act.

Dolphin and Union caribou — also written as “Union-Dolphin caribou” — are a distinct population of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) native to Canada. As such, the service’s endangered listing only restricts trade in Dolphin and Union caribou in the U.S. and no critical habitat has been designated.

Initially, the service proposed to list the species as threatened, but new information highlighted a 75% decline in the animal’s population between 2015 and 2018. This decline became evident again in 2020, only 3,800 animals remained — an 89% decrease from 1997 populations.

Climate change remains the biggest threat to the species, which migrate across sea ice from wintering grounds to calving grounds on Victoria Island. Many fall through the ice due to inadequate formation, and increased shipping activity doesn't help the species either as ships break apart sea ice and increase the risk of drowning.

“This listing reflects the growing extinction crisis and highlights the importance of the ESA and efforts to conserve species before population declines become irreversible,” said Fish and Wildlife Director Martha Williams in a statement. “Climate change is having a profound impact on species around the world and addressing it is a priority challenge for the Administration.”

Hunting pressure also negatively affects the Dolphin and Union caribou, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. As of Jan. 12, 2023, all personal and commercial imports and exports, excluding those accompanied by permits for research and educational purposes, will be prohibited.

“I’m grateful that the service acknowledged Dolphin and Union caribou are at risk of extinction and gave the population the Endangered Species Act’s strongest protections,” said center scientist Dianne DuBois in a statement. “I hope the agency also uses every resource available to tackle the climate crisis and ensure these animals’ ancient migration for years to come.”

The final rule to list the Dolphin and Union caribou under the Endangered Species Act will be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday.
 
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