Wildlife

Welfare of Migrating Caribou

Caribou undertake some of the longest land migrations on Earth; industrial development, climate change, and hunting create welfare challenges throughout their range.

Key Facts

Caribou migrate up to 3,000 miles annually between seasonal ranges
Industrial development including oil pipelines disrupts traditional migration routes
Climate-driven vegetation changes reduce the quality of summer forage
Insect harassment causes caribou to expend enormous energy fleeing pest swarms
First Nations communities have traditional relationships with caribou affecting management

Welfare Considerations

Migratory caribou welfare is affected throughout their extraordinary journeys by infrastructure barriers, changing vegetation quality, insect harassment, and hunting pressure. Climate change is increasingly disrupting the seasonal cycles these migrations depend on.

What You Can Do

Support pipeline routing decisions that minimize caribou migration disruption
Advocate for climate action to protect arctic and boreal caribou habitat
Donate to caribou population monitoring programs
Engage respectfully with First Nations perspectives on caribou management and welfare