Porcupine Caribou

Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus

General Status Rank: 
Secure
Common Name: 
Porcupine Caribou
Scientific Name: 
Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus
Synonyms: 
Rangifer tarandus granti
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Terrestrial Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Artiodactyla
Family: 
Cervidae
References: 
A133
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

Generation time (average age of parents in the population) eight to nine (8-9) years, based on adult survival and fecundity.
References: 
R2017002
Habitat
Range size has decreased as population numbers have declined. Habitat is changing (e.g, forest fires, climate change, disturbance), but the effects of these changes on caribou ecology and population dynamics are poorly understood.
References: 
R2017002
Distribution

Distribution

The Porcupine herd is primarily located in Alaska with wintering range in the northern Yukon and NWT. Extent of occurrence for the Porcupine herd, excluding the portions of its range not within in the NWT, is 21,337 km2 (SARC2017).
Score: 
F = 2
References: 
R2017002

Number of Occurrences

1 herd

Area of Occupancy

The area of occupancy for the Porcupine herd, calculated based on the smallest area essential for the survival of existing populations (calving grounds), either within the NWT or outside the NWT, is 23,952 km2 (SARC 2017).
Score: 
G = 2
References: 
R2017002
Population

Population Size

Porcupine: 218,000 (2017) from 197, 228 (2013)
Score: 
G = 1
References: 
R2017002
Trends

Trends

Based on Monte Carlo analysis between 1989-2016, Porcupine: +31%. The Porcupine herd is currently at the highest recorded level and the predicted change in numbers is unknown (SARC 2017).
Score: 
H = I
References: 
R2017002
Threats

Threats

For the Porcupine herd, activity on the winter range, improved hunting access, and potential future mineral exploration are key threats. A threat of a greater magnitude will be the decision on oil and gas exploration and development on the coastal plains of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska which would impact critical calving habitat.
Score: 
C = M
References: 
R2017002

Intrinsic Vulnerability

References: 
R2017002
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
See assessment of not at risk by SARC (2017).
S Rank: 
S5
Decision Process Description: 
Included in ranking with barren-ground caribou in 2016-2020; taxon and ranking added in 2017 (S. Carriere) after assessment by SARC (2017) separately from barren-ground Caribou. Assessment and taxonomic changes. Reviewed in 2020, no change.
Last Updated: 
February 15, 2024
Status Designations

NWT - Assessment by Species at Risk Committee

NWT SARC Assessment: 
Not At Risk
2017 - SARC (2017) assessed herd separately from barren-ground caribou (herds).
References: 
R2017002

NWT - Species at Risk Legal Status

NWT Status Rank: 
Not Applicable
Assessed as not at risk in 2017; listing not necessary.

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

COSEWIC Status: 
Threatened
This herd is assessed as part of barren-ground caribou in Canada 2016; 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.)
References: 
R2017004

Canada – Species at Risk Legal Status

Listing decision still pending.

References

Age Of Maturity

  • 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

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

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

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 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

  • 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

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