Credit: Colin + Meg @colinandmeg

Caribou are iconic animals both in Canada and globally across the northern hemisphere. They are also very sensitive to habitat disturbance. In Canada, boreal caribou usually live where most other animals do not - in sparse and low productivity forests. In those habitats, caribou can isolate themselves from other ungulates like moose, and from predators like wolves.

However, industrial land uses, like oil and gas, forestry, and mining often fragment caribou habitat, with many linear features like roads, pipelines, and seismic lines. Those features make it easier for wolves to travel within caribou habitat, and for wolves to hunt and kill caribou. Those features often remain on landscapes for many decades beyond their intended use, thereby reducing caribou security and populations over the long term.

Habitat restoration, or active intervention to close open features, is now being used to restore security back into otherwise impacted caribou habitat. While still a new conservation method, early restoration outcomes are very promising. In this talk I will discuss different restoration methods and outcomes in both Alberta and British Columbia, what works and what needs improvement, the scope of the conservation challenge, and promising new approaches upcoming on the horizon.

The presentation will be held at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre community room, located in the Lethbridge river valley at the north end of Indian Battle Road South.

Furthermore, Nature Lethbridge is offering to join this event via zoom.
Please use the following link to access the presentation: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88432677990?pwd=THJGdGFLMmJwVE1tVmZDTlhoUG41dz09