Barren-ground Caribou

Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus

General Status Rank: 
At Risk
ELCODE: 
AMALC0401J
Common Name: 
Barren-ground Caribou
Scientific Name: 
Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Terrestrial Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Artiodactyla
Family: 
Cervidae
References: 
A099
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

3 years, but depends on body condition.
References: 
R019
R122

Economic/Human Considerations

Very high cultural significance, food, clothing, other material, spiritual values - see traditional knowledge section in SARC (2016) (R2017002).
References: 
P101
R2017002
Habitat
Summer = northern tundra Winter = southern tundra and taiga
References: 
R2017002
Distribution

Ecozones

Southern Arctic, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield
References: 
R2017002

Distribution

Extent of occurrence for these eight herds, excluding portions of their range not within the NWT, is approximately 787,473 km2. The range of the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, and Bluenose-West herds is almost entirely within the NWT. The range of the Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Ahiak, and Beverly herds currently includes the NWT and Nunavut. The Qamanirjuaq herd is mostly in Nunavut and Manitoba, with a small portion in the NWT and Saskatchewan (SARC 2017).
Score: 
G = 2
References: 
R2017002

Number of Occurrences

8 herds: Bluenose (3 herds, including B- east, B-west, and Cape Bathurst, all in the NWT); Ahiak (aka Queen Maud Gulf, shared with Nunavut); Beverly (shared with Nunavut); Qamanirjuaq (barely in NWT, shared with Nunavut); Bathurst (shared with Nunavut).
Score: 
B = 6
References: 
H124
P101
R2017002

Historical Distribution

References: 
R018

Area of Occupancy

The area of occupancy for the eight central/eastern herds, calculated in the same manner, is 161,852 km2, excluding calving ground overlap between the Beverly and Ahiak herds.
Score: 
H = >
References: 
R2017002
Population

Population Size

Roughly 530,000 barren-ground caribou exist either always or sometimes within the NWT (from most recent surveys Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula: 1,499 (2018), Cape Bathurst: 4,521 (2018), Bluenose-East: 19,294 (2018), Bluenose-West: 21,001 (2018), Bathurst: 8,210 (2018), Ahiak: 71,340 (2011), Beverly South: densities of breeding females too low to survey further (2011), Beverly North: 124,189 (2011); Qamanirjuak: 288,244 (2017).
Score: 
G = 1
References: 
R2017002
Trends

Trends

Overall - 72% decline from 3 generations ago (1996 to 2020). Based on IUCN Criterion A workbook, assuming a constant exponential rate of population change, using estimated population size from 2 surveys 3 generations apart, generation time 8 years (SARC 2017): Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula: -76% (2006-2018), Cape Bathurst: -70% (2000-2018), Bluenose-East: -91% (2000-2018), Bluenose-West: -82% (2000-2018), Bathurst: -98% (1996-2018), Ahiak: about -81% (1996-2011), Beverly: about -67% (1994-2011), Qamanirjuaq: about -43% (1994-2017). The Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula herd appears in slow decline, the Cape Bathurst herd remains small but is declining, the Bluenose-West herd remains small and in decline, the Bluenose-East herd and the Bathurst herd are declining further despite management efforts to reverse the trend. The Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds are possibly in decline, but numbers from the 1990s are only estimates and rates of decline cannot be determined with high certainty.
Score: 
C = d
References: 
R2017002
Threats

Threats

Industrial development is considered to be one of the most significant factors affecting barren-ground caribou. It can disturb caribou and affect their behaviour, the quality of habitat and forage, and ultimately, the survivability of the species. It can also facilitate access for both humans and predators. Predation can affect survival and reproduction and therefore abundance, and there are reports of increasing predator populations in some areas. Forest fires represent the most visible factor driving habitat fragmentation and change, impacting forage availability and movement. This threat is particularly important in the winter range. Climate change may lead to even hotter and drier summers in the NWT, possibly increasing the frequency and intensity of fires. For some herds, potential over-harvesting, reindeer-related diseases; trends due to climate change.
Score: 
B = H
References: 
R2017002

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Climate change may act as a continuing threat to barren-ground caribou through a complex mechanism involving shifts in timing of green-up, changes in summer forage quality, rain-on-snow and icing events on the winter range, longer fire seasons, melting permafrost and erosion, changes to freeze-up and thaw timing, and increasing shrub cover. Parasites and diseases are a potential and complex threat under a warmer climate.
References: 
R2017002
General Status Rank
Rank: 
At Risk
Status Rank Description: 
Significant declines in herds in the past 3 generations, for which there is good information, but still large population numbers.
S Rank: 
S2
Decision Process Description: 
Reviewed in 2004 - But declines in populations are noted, modified to sensitive based on suggestions from wildlife management boards and others - April 2006. Reviewed in 2010, no change. Reviewed in 2016, changed to at risk due to new assessment by SARC. Reviewed in 2020, no change.
Last Updated: 
February 15, 2024
Status Designations

NWT - Assessment by Species at Risk Committee

NWT SARC Assessment: 
Threatened
Assessment in 2017 included herds on the barren-grounds only, not the Porcupine herd (see Porcupine caribou).
References: 
R2017002

NWT - Species at Risk Legal Status

NWT Status Rank: 
Threatened
Added to NWT List of Species at Risk as Threatened in 2018.

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Threatened
Designated Threatened in November 2016. (COSEWIC. 2016. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Barren-ground caribou Rangifer tarandus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 108 pp.). Assessment includes Porcupine herd in Canada.
References: 
R2017004

Canada – Species at Risk Legal Status

Federal listing decision still pending.

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Miller FL (1991) Updated status report on the peary caribou Rangifer tarandus pearyi in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R019 Return
  • Recovery Team (2000) Draft recovery strategy - Peary Caribou. Draft Anne Gunn Office - R122 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • COSEWIC (2016) COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Barren-ground Caribou Rangifer tarandus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 108 pp. . Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 108 pp. - R2017004 Return

Economic Status

  • NWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (1992) NWT Wildlife Sketches: Barren-Ground Caribou of the Northwest Territories. NWT Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development 3rd Edition Personal Files - P101 Return
  • SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return

Ecozones

  • SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return

Habitat

  • SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Kelsall JP (1984) Status report on the woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus dawsoni and Rangifer tarandus caribou in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R018 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Cronin, M.A, MacNeil, M. D. and Patton, J.C. (2005) Variation in mitrochondrial DNA and microsatellite DNA in Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in North America.. Journal of Mammalogy 86(3):495-505 - A133 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Gunn, A (1999) Personal Communication (poster). Ungulate Biologist, RWED, HQ - H124 Return
  • NWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (1992) NWT Wildlife Sketches: Barren-Ground Caribou of the Northwest Territories. NWT Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development 3rd Edition Personal Files - P101 Return
  • SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return

NWT SARC Assessment

  • SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return

Population Size

SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return

Range Extent

  • SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return

Short Term Trends

  • SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return

Taxonomy

  • Miller FL (1982) Management of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press Biology and Management of the Cervidae. Wemmer CM (editor) 523-534 RWED Library Call #QL737.U55B56 - A099 Return

Threats

  • SARC (2017) Species Status Report for Porcupine Caribou and Barren-ground Caribou (Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Ahiak, and Qamanirjuaq herds) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories. . Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife NT http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bgc_and_pch_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr1117_0.pdf - R2017002 Return