Ways to Help the Caribou

How You Can Help

Everyone’s support on this issue is vital. You can help by asking elected representatives to take action to protect the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou herds and their habitats.

Every voice will help the BQCMB make sure that caribou remain plentiful and healthy in the future.

Taking Action Now

Resource Development Encroaching on Important Caribou Habitats

Action must be taken now to protect the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou herds, their calving grounds and other important habitats. Many land use activities, including mineral exploration, mining and road construction, are escalating across the caribou ranges. Growing communities and southern hunters arriving via new roads may be straining herd populations as well.

Recommendations to Help Caribou Herds

With help from caribou range communities, the BQCMB developed six key recommendations on ways that governments, agencies, communities, hunters and others can help the caribou herds:

  • Governments and others should protect areas that are very important to caribou, such as calving grounds and migration corridors.
  • Governments and regulatory agencies should do more to help protect caribou from mineral exploration and development, and from fires on the winter range.
  • Hunters should take only what they need.
  • Hunters should not waste.
  • Hunters should harvest bulls instead of cows when possible when herds are not doing well.
  • Traditional harvest of predators should be encouraged, especially on the calving grounds.

Follow Local Harvesting Protocols

In 2016, the Athabasca Denesuline and the Manitoba Denesuline met in Black Lake, SK to draft a Harvesting Protocol.

This Harvesting Protocol provides the foundation for the Denesuline to work together cooperatively to address any issues or concerns that may arise regarding the harvesting of caribou.

The protocol includes 10 agreements, including to respect local community caribou harvesting protocols, like the ‘Athabasca Denesuline 10 Traditional Protocols of Caribou Hunting’, pictured at left.

View the complete Harvesting Protocol between the Athabasa and Manitoba Denesuline here.

Report Caribou Disturbances

Have you seen caribou being bothered by helicopters, trucks or anything else? Have you observed specific of movements, caribou condition, and thinks like disease and parasites? Please help the BQCMB learn more by reporting report caribou disturbances and sending us your observations. Please contact us to submit a report or record a disturbance.

Donate Today to Help a Great Cause!

The BQCMB is a registered charity.
(Charitable Registration No. 86620 7574 RR0001)

Please send your cheque or money order to:

BQCMB
P.O. Box 629
Stonewall MB  R0C 2Z0

OR donate online at CanadaHelps.org