Predation

While caribou scientists agree that predation is the major immediate threat to mountain caribou, habitat loss and degradation is the ultimate cause. Habitat alteration disrupts the conditions under which mountain caribou, and other species including predators, have coevolved. Clear-cuts favour deer, elk and moose, because for a few years after logging there is more food for them (low shrubs and herbs). This allows these animals – and their predators – to increase and expand into mountain caribou habitat.

It is not energy efficient for predators to rely on caribou as a main food source, since caribou spread themselves throughout the forest at relatively low densities. But as the ranges of deer and moose have been increased by human alteration of habitat, predators of deer and moose encounter – and kill – caribou more frequently.

Scientists stress that ultimately the only way to protect and recover mountain caribou is to effectively protect sufficient habitat and restore a predator-prey system that does not disadvantage caribou. In the short term direct control of predators where they are preventing the recovery of caribou, particularly where herds are smaller and most vulnerable, is required. In the medium to long term restoration of balance in the predator-prey system through habitat recovery will provide for stable and healthy caribou, deer, elk, moose and predator populations.