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Boreal woodland caribou
Woodland Caribou Southern Selkirk Mountains of Idaho 2007.jpg
Boreal woodland caribou in the southern Selkirk Mountains of Idaho
Conservation status
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Rangifer
Species:
R. tarandus
Subspecies:
R. t. caribou
Trinomial name
Rangifer tarandus caribou
(Gmelin, 1788)
Rangifer tarandus Map NA.svg
Approximate range of boreal woodland caribou. Overlap with other subspecies of caribou is possible for contiguous range. 1. Rangifer tarandus caribou, which is subdivided into ecotypes: woodland (boreal), woodland (migratory) and woodland (mountain), 2. gt. t. dawsoni (extinct 1908), 3. R. t. granti, 4. R. t. groenlandicus, 5. R. t. groenlandicus/pearyi, 6. R. t. pearyi

The boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) is also known as the woodland caribou or forest-dwelling caribou. It is a type of reindeer found in North America, mostly in Canada. Unlike some other caribou, boreal woodland caribou usually stay in one area and don't travel long distances.

These caribou are the largest type of caribou and have darker fur than the barren-ground caribou. They like to live in older forests that have lots of lichen, which is a plant they eat. You can often find them in wet areas like marshes, bogs, and near lakes and rivers.

Historically, boreal woodland caribou lived across more than half of Canada, from Alaska to Newfoundland and Labrador. Their range used to stretch south into the United States. Sadly, they are no longer found in places like New England, Minnesota, Idaho, Wisconsin, or Michigan. Only a few dozen remain in Washington state.

In 2002, the boreal woodland caribou was listed as a "threatened" species by a group called the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). By 2011, there were about 34,000 boreal caribou left in Canada. The biggest danger to these caribou is human development, like building roads and industries. This breaks up their habitat and makes it easier for predators to find them. Only about 30% of Canada's boreal woodland caribou populations are considered healthy and self-sustaining.

Compared to other caribou, boreal woodland caribou don't gather in huge groups. They are more spread out, especially when calves are born. They also don't travel as far. They typically form small, separate groups in winter and only migrate short distances (50–150 km) during the rest of the year.

The word "caribou" likely comes from the Mi'kmaq language word xalibu or qalipu, which means "the one who paws." This refers to how they dig in the snow for food. The earliest known record of this caribou in North America is a 1.6 million-year-old tooth found in the Yukon Territory.

What is a Boreal Woodland Caribou?

The boreal woodland caribou is a specific type of caribou. It is also called the woodland caribou or forest-dwelling caribou. The name "caribou" comes from the Mi'kmaq word xalibu or qalipu, meaning "the one who paws." This name first appeared in print in 1610.

Caribou vs. Reindeer: What's the Difference?

Even though "caribou" and "reindeer" are the same species (Rangifer tarandus), the names are used differently. "Caribou" usually refers to the wild types found in North America. "Reindeer" describes domesticated or wild types found in Europe and Asia. Some reindeer have been brought to North America.

How Do They Look?

Boreal woodland caribou are medium-sized animals. They have unique crescent-shaped hooves that change with the seasons. These hooves help them walk on snow and soft ground like swamps. They also use their hooves to dig through snow to find food like lichens.

These caribou are about 1.0 to 1.2 meters (3.3 to 3.9 feet) tall at the shoulder. They weigh between 110 and 210 kilograms (240 to 460 pounds). Both male and female boreal woodland caribou can grow antlers for part of the year. Some females might have only one antler or none at all. Male antlers grow very quickly, becoming over a meter long by August. Their antlers are flat, compact, and dense. They are also thicker and wider than those of barren-ground caribou.

Boreal woodland caribou are well-suited for cold weather. They have a compact body covered in thick, long fur, which is even thicker in winter. They have a large, blunt nose, short, wide ears, and a small tail. In summer, their fur is brown to dark brown, turning grayer in winter. Adults have a creamy-white neck, mane, shoulder stripe, belly, and patches above their hooves.

How Do Boreal Woodland Caribou Reproduce?

Caribou forestier 2017 Parc National des Grands Jardins 47.6833°N 70.85°W (270)
A woodland caribou calf

Female woodland caribou can start having babies at about 16 months old. Males are ready to breed at 18–20 months, but they usually don't breed until they are three or four years old. This is because older males are stronger and compete for mates.

Their reproduction rate is low, meaning they don't have many babies. Breeding happens in late September and early October. Calves are born in mid-June. Female caribou and their newborn calves are more at risk from predators than migratory caribou. This is because they often give birth away from the main herd and stay alone until mid-winter.

Where Do Boreal Woodland Caribou Live?

In 2012, experts identified 51 areas in Canada where boreal woodland caribou live. The northernmost area is in the Mackenzie River Delta in the Northwest Territories. The southernmost populations are on islands in Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada, like the Slate Islands and Michipicoten Island.

Caribou in the Northwest Territories

In 2012, the Northwest Territories (NWT) decided that boreal woodland caribou were a "threatened" species. This means they are likely to become endangered if things don't change. Caribou need large areas of undisturbed habitat to spread out and avoid predators. This means they naturally live in low numbers across a big area, making them very sensitive to habitat loss.

The NWT population is small, with about 5,300 adult caribou and a total population of around 6,500. This number is likely not more than 10,000 in the NWT. Their habitat is shrinking, and their numbers are declining.

Local Indigenous groups, like the Gwich'in, hunt boreal woodland caribou for food. However, they prefer to hunt other types of caribou that travel in larger herds. Boreal woodland caribou are harder to hunt because they live in small groups and are very smart and elusive.

Caribou in British Columbia

In British Columbia (BC), boreal woodland caribou are now only found in the lowlands of the northeastern corner. This area has many wolves, which worries experts because the caribou herds might not be able to survive on their own.

In 2006, after a survey, boreal caribou were listed as "blue-listed" in BC, meaning they are at risk. Some northern woodland caribou herds in BC are listed as "threatened" or of "special concern" by the federal government. For example, the Pink Mountain Herd's population dropped from 1,300 in 1996 to 850 in 2002 and continues to decline.

The Cariboo district in central BC was named for the large numbers of caribou that once lived there. However, they have almost disappeared from that area in the last century.

Caribou in Alberta

There are 16 woodland caribou herds in Alberta, all living on government land. Seven of the ten most at-risk herds in Canada are in Alberta. These herds are facing serious threats.

One herd is protected in the Caribou Mountains Wildland Park in Alberta. This park has undisturbed forests rich in lichen, which is perfect caribou habitat. About 80% of an important caribou population lives in this park, and about a third of Alberta's threatened caribou depend on it.

The Little Smoky Herd is in the most disturbed boreal caribou habitat in the country. By 2012, only 80 animals were left in this herd. The Alberta government has been trying to help by culling wolves, sometimes a hundred a year, since 2005.

A 2014 report showed that caribou numbers in Alberta's oil sands region were declining rapidly. This area is heavily impacted by oil and gas development. Protecting caribou habitat also helps protect water quality and other native fish and bird species.

Caribou in Saskatchewan and Manitoba

In Saskatchewan, boreal woodland caribou live in an area with very little human disturbance, but it experiences many forest fires.

Manitoba has several small populations of boreal woodland caribou.

Caribou in Ontario

Experts have known since the 1940s that the caribou range in Ontario has been shrinking. The boreal woodland caribou population in Ontario, estimated at about 3,000, was listed as threatened in 2000. This means they are likely to become endangered if the problems they face are not fixed.

The Slate Islands in Lake Superior are famous for having Ontario's largest herd of boreal woodland caribou. Since there are no wolves or other predators on the islands, the population once peaked at 660 caribou. However, a food shortage in 1990 reduced their numbers to less than 100.

Caribou in Quebec

All caribou in Quebec were once considered the same type. However, there are three different "ecotypes" (types based on their behavior and habitat) with specific ways of life. The boreal woodland caribou (forest-dwelling type) lives mainly in the boreal forest, especially in areas where forest fires don't happen very often. Their numbers have also decreased over the years.

The George River and Leaf River caribou herds are also considered boreal woodland caribou, but they are migratory. This means they travel thousands of miles each year to and from their birthing grounds.

George River Caribou Herd

The George River caribou herd is a migratory type of boreal woodland caribou. Since the mid-1990s, this herd has declined very quickly. In 2001, there were 385,000 animals, but by 2018, there were fewer than 9,000.

Leaf River Caribou Herd

Caribou at the campsite (cropped)
Leaf River and caribou
Caribou crossing Leaf River
Caribou crossing Leaf River

The Leaf River caribou herd is another migratory type. This herd grew from 270,000 animals in 1991 to 628,000 in 2001. However, by 2011, it had decreased to 430,000 caribou. Experts believe this herd and others that migrate could be at risk of extinction by 2080.

Caribou in the United States

The only remaining wild woodland caribou population in the lower 48 United States lives in the southern Selkirk Mountains in northern Idaho, eastern Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. These caribou are very rare and are sometimes called "grey ghosts" because they are so hard to spot. By April 2018, only three of these caribou were left.

At the start of the 20th century, boreal woodland caribou lived as far south as northern Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Maine. However, they are now considered to be gone from these areas. There have been efforts to reintroduce caribou to northern Minnesota and Isle Royale National Park in Michigan.

Why Are Boreal Woodland Caribou Disappearing?

The main reason boreal caribou populations are shrinking is due to high rates of predation, mostly from wolves. When human activities like logging, mining, and building roads break up the caribou's habitat, it helps wolves and other predators. These changes allow predators to access areas where caribou usually hide, especially in peatlands. This makes it easier for wolves to hunt caribou, leading to more caribou deaths.

Boreal woodland caribou have been protected from hunting since 1929. However, their numbers continue to decline. Their range has shrunk by about 34 kilometers (21 miles) every decade. If this continues, boreal woodland caribou could become extinct before the year 2100.

Human activities like oil and gas exploration, logging, and road building are major problems. For example, in one area, there are 35,000 oil and gas sites, thousands of kilometers of seismic lines (paths cut through forests for exploration), pipelines, and roads. This turns the wild land into a "patchwork quilt," making it hard for animals like caribou to survive.

How Does Development Affect Caribou?

When many different developments happen in one area, it creates a "cumulative effect" that harms the caribou's habitat. For example, in the oil sands region of Alberta, mining, logging, and oil and gas exploration destroy old-growth forests. This leads to more deer, moose, and elk, which in turn attracts more predators like wolves. Caribou need large areas with few predators.

Experts agree that all boreal caribou in Alberta are at a high risk of disappearing locally (extirpation). Governments are working on plans to monitor and manage these impacts. Companies like Suncor are also involved in discussions about how their operations affect caribou and their habitats.

How Do Scientists Study Caribou?

Scientists use technology to monitor caribou. They capture caribou and fit them with tracking collars that use GPS or radio signals. These collars send data to satellites, which helps scientists know exactly where the caribou are. This tracking helps them understand migration patterns and how caribou use their territory.

Scientists also use satellite images, like those from Landsat, to see how human activities are changing the landscape. This includes identifying roads, seismic lines, pipelines, and logging areas that affect caribou habitat.

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