Description

Northern mountain caribou are a distinct population of woodland caribou, which is the largest subspecies of caribou in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

Northern mountain caribou are similar to boreal caribou, the other population of woodland caribou found in the NWT but have different habitat preferences and behaviour.

Habitat

Northern mountain caribou live in the Mackenzie Mountains. Many are migratory and they sometimes gather into large groups.

Northern mountain caribou live in open alpine and sub-alpine areas in summer, and montane forest areas with shallow snow cover in winter. They have distinct migrations where they move up or down in elevation depending on the season.

Population

There are about 50,000-55,000 northern mountain caribou in the NWT, Yukon and northern British Columbia.

The northern mountain caribou herds in the NWT include the Bonnet Plume (about 5,000 animals), Redstone (at least 10,000 animals), and the Nahanni Complex (including Coal River, La Biche and South Nahanni; about 3,000 animals).

Most information on population trends in the NWT is outdated, except for the South Nahanni herd with a stable or possibly increasing population.

Harvest Management

A harvest management system helps protect northern mountain caribou in the NWT. NWT residents can harvest one northern mountain caribou per year.

Non-residents can also harvest northern mountain caribou with an outfitter and must report their harvest. There is no limit or closed season for Aboriginal harvest of northern mountain caribou.

• For more information see the NWT Summary of Hunting and Trapping Regulations

Species at Risk Status and Management

Northern mountain caribou are listed as a species at risk under the federal Species at Risk Act and the territorial Species at Risk (NWT) Act.  

The management plan for northern mountain caribou in the NWT sets out recommended approaches to prevent northern mountain caribou from becoming Threatened or Endangered, by having responsible agencies cooperatively work together to carefully manage these caribou and their habitat. A report on progress is published every five years.

Further information on species at risk status and management of northern mountain caribou can be found at www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca.

Resources

• NWT Species and Habitat Viewer

  • Use the NWT Species and Habitat Viewer to find northern mountain caribou map layers. Learn more: About the NWT Species and Habitat Viewer

• GNWT Environment and Climate Change Resources (webpage)
• About Northern Mountain Caribou – NWT Species at Risk (webpage)
• NWT Species at Risk