Caribou herd in trouble

Only 20 animals remain, according to latest government estimate

Red Wine numbers hit all-time low.

The population of the threatened Red Wine Mountain caribou herd has been declining for years, but the latest numbers — compiled by the provincial government in the fall of 2014 — show the herd at staggeringly low numbers.

In fact, you can count the number of caribou using your hands and feet.

“Our latest survey has said that the Red Wine Mountain caribou herd is at an all-time low of approximately 20 animals,” said Environment and Conservation Minister Dan Crummell.

“So that represents a 97 per cent decline over the last 25 years. And we are obviously very concerned. We do have a responsibility that we take very seriously under the Endangered Species Act and Wildlife Act to update the recovery plan that has been in place since 2002, and we’re committed to doing exactly that.”

In 2013, the Red Wine Mountain herd was estimated at 75100 animals.

When asked about the reasons for the steep decline in population, Crummell said the reasons are “complex and multiple.”

“We made significant investments to try and understand why this is happening and what we need to do,” he said. “The research shows that the declines are complex and multiple in nature.

“We have ecological conditions that impact the population, we have range deterioration that impacts population, illegal hunting … that has certainly played a part.

“Certainly the mortality is the biggest issue — why the caribou are not surviving, why the recruitment has been very low, why the young are not surviving as well as they should. That is still what we’re studying and it’s a very difficult question to answer.”

Nalcor plans to construct part of the Muskrat Falls transmission line in the Red Wine region. Crummell said that, a few weeks ago, Nalcor was given stricter rules for activity in the area.

Some of the new amendments facing Nalcor, when it begins activity in the area, include, “Avoiding and limiting project activities during sensitive times for the animals,” and, “Activities are also not permitted within important, and highly used … calving areas.”

On top of those new restrictions, work must also cease if a Red Wine caribou is spotted within four kilometres of the work site “until the caribou no longer occupy the area.”

“(They have to) drop the tools and walk away,” said Crummell.

He said the near-vanquished herd will continue to be highly monitored and a recovery plan for the caribou will be updated.

“As part of that plan, we’ll continue to invest in research, we’ll continue to identify seasonal ranges that are extremely important to that particular herd,” said Crummell. “We’ll continue to monitor survival and recruitment, and we’ll be using this information to ensure any activity or developments involve minimal disturbance to the remaining animals.

“We certainly recognize that change needs to be made to our recovery plan. We want to be proactive. We want to turn this around.”

“So that represents a 97 per cent decline over the last 25 years. And we are obviously very concerned. We do have a responsibility that we take very seriously under the Endangered Species Act and Wildlife Act to update the recovery plan that has been in place since 2002, and we’re committed to doing exactly that.” Environment and Conservation Minister Dan Crummell