Northern Mountain Caribou | NWT Species at Risk

Northern Mountain Caribou

Caribou [Northern Mountain population]

Rangifer tarandus caribou

NWT List of Species at Risk:

Special Concern

NWT SARC Assessment:

Special Concern

Federal Species at Risk Act list:

Special Concern

COSEWIC Assessment:

Special Concern

NWT General Status Rank:

Sensitive

Description:

Northern Mountain Caribou are members of the deer family. Compared to Barren-ground Caribou, Northern Mountain Caribou are larger and darker, have thicker and broader antlers, and have longer legs and a longer face. Northern Mountain Caribou look the same as Boreal Caribou but have different habitat preferences and behaviour.

Weight: 110 to 210 kg (240 to 460 lb). Height at shoulder: 1.0 to 1.2 m (3.3 to 4.0 ft).

Report Northern Mountain Caribou sightings to WILDLIFEOBS@gov.nt.ca

Distribution

Northern Mountain Caribou live in the Mackenzie Mountains in large groups, sometimes in the thousands.

Range map information

Habitat and biology

Northern Mountain Caribou live throughout the Mackenzie Mountains in open alpine and sub-alpine areas in summer, and montane spruce-lichen forest areas with shallow snow cover in winter. They have distinct migrations where they move up or down in elevation depending on the season.

Northern Mountain Caribou use ice patches to escape insects and cool down in the summer.

Caribou are the only species of the deer family where both males and females have antlers.

Population size and trends

There are approximately 50,000 - 55,000 Northern Mountain Caribou in the NWT, Yukon and northern British Columbia.

The herds in the NWT include the Bonnet Plume (about 5,000 animals), Redstone (at least 10,000 animals) and 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 Most information on population trends in the NWT is outdated, except for the South Nahanni herd with a stable or possibly increasing population. Populations are generally thought to be stable based on scientific information, however Indigenous knowledge holders have reported population declines in certain areas or displacement.

Threats

While there is some localized hunting pressure in mountain areas with road access, overall there is limited harvesting of Northern Mountain Caribou because they live in very remote areas. Potential threats include mineral exploration activities, which can disturb Northern Mountain Caribou and increase access into their range. Increased access can lead to increased hunting pressure, recreation activities, and easier access for predators.

Another threat is that there are fewer summer ice patches in the mountains because of climate change.

Protection and recovery

COSEWIC assessed Northern Mountain Caribou as a species of Special Concern in Canada in 2002; this status was re-examined and confirmed in 2014. Northern Mountain Caribou were listed as Special Concern under the federal Species at Risk Act in 2005. A national management plan for Northern Mountain Caribou is available on the federal Species at Risk Public Registry.

The NWT Species at Risk Committee assessed Northern Mountain Caribou as a species of Special Concern in the NWT in 2020. In 2021, Northern Mountain Caribou was listed as Special Concern in the NWT under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act.

Part of the Northern Mountain Caribou range in the NWT is protected within Nahanni and Naats’ihch’oh National Park Reserves.

Area:

Dehcho, Gwich'in, Sahtú

Status Report and Assessment of Northern Mountain Caribou in the NWT (2020)

Évaluation du caribou des montagnes du Nord aux Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Consensus Agreement on Listing Northern Mountain Caribou as Special Concern in the NWT (2021)

NWT Gazette Notice of Listed Species (2021)

Consensus Agreement on Accepting and Adopting the Management Plan for Northern Mountain Caribou in the NWT (2023)

Links:

NWT Environment and Natural Resources - Northern Mountain Caribou webpage