Community
Monitoring: A Four-year Summary of the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge
Co-op
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Reports indicate no significant change in body condition of caribou or incidence of sick animals for the four-year period. There are different opinions on what is happening with the herd population. Many local hunters are skeptical about the reliability of the photo-census method of counting. There are also different opinions on whether the herd is healthy.
Long-term changes and concerns
- Caribou are observed to be more skittish, reacting more to planes and snowmobiles
- Migration occurs in smaller, more scattered groups
- Change in community lifestyle (decrease in total harvest) has resulted in higher population.
- Increase in caribou population can result in overgrazing of wintering grounds and an unhealthy herd.
Explanations for decrease in herd population
- “Could be
weather when they are calving or wolves.” (AI 98/99)
“People shooting too many cows; some hunters don't watch which kind of caribou to shoot.” (AG 99/00) - “People taking too many caribou on the highway. Cows especially.” (OC 99/00)
