Boreal caribou (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) are a Species At Risk in Canada. They are a forest dwelling species and mainly live in peatland and old growth forest habitats within the boreal forest.
Their distribution once covered a large area of boreal forest in Canada, stretching from the Northwest Territories through to Labrador. The species is highly sensitive to natural disturbance (such as forest fires) and their habitat has been eroded and fragmented by human activity over the last 40 years.
A government-led species recovery strategy is underway and Golder’s Wildlife and Habitat Restoration Specialists Team from the Edmonton, Calgary and Fort St. John offices have been supporting boreal caribou research and monitoring in Western Canada since 2003. In North East British Columbia, this has included work on habitat condition, natural revegetation recovery (conventional linear footprints, low impact seismic) and woodland caribou habitat restoration. Golder is presently involved with two projects that are assisting the recovery of boreal caribou through habitat restoration and a population rearing facility.
