Boreal Forest in Canada - Woodland Caribou

The Woodland Caribou in Canada are considered an endangered species in Alberta. The Woodland Caribou live in the boreal forests of northern Canada and in the Rocky Mountains; more particularly, in Jasper National Park where their numbers are low: 100 individuals.


This music video was produced by Grade 10 students as a school project to support the Boreal Forest Conservation.



For those viewers who cannot view an embedded video see here.


Woodland Caribou in Alberta



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Old Forest in Alberta



or here.

Further information about the Woodland Caribou and other endangered species in Alberta can be found at this website.

In Europe, caribou are called reindeer, but in Alaska and Canada only the domestic forms are called reindeer.

In summer (May-September), caribou eat the leaves of willows, sedges, flowering tundra plants, and mushrooms. They switch to lichens (reindeer moss), dried sedges (grass-like plants), and small shrubs (like blueberry) in September.


















This diagram shows the approximate range of caribou subspecies in North-America with overlapping for contiguous range. Groenlandicus and pearyi mix on some arctic islands.

Barren-ground Caribou (R. tarandus groenlandicus), found in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories of Canada and in western Greenland.

Porcupine caribou or Grant's Caribou (R. tarandus granti) which are found in Alaska, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories of Canada.

Peary Caribou (R. tarandus pearyi), found in the northern islands of the Nunavut and the Northwest Territories of Canada.

Woodland Caribou (R. tarandus caribou), or forest caribou, once found in the North American taiga (boreal forest) from Alaska to Newfoundland and Labrador and as far south as New England, Idaho, and Washington. Woodland Caribou have disappeared from most of their original southern range and are considered "threatened" where they remain, with the notable exception of the Migratory Woodland Caribou of northern Quebec and Labrador, Canada. The name of the Cariboo district of central British Columbia relates to their once-large numbers there, but they have almost vanished from that area in the last century. Herds are protected in Jasper National Park and the Caribou Mountains in Alberta.

Queen Charlotte Islands caribou (R. tarandus dawsoni) from Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) was believed to represent a distinct subspecies. It became extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. Recent DNA analysis from mitochrondrial DNA of the remains from those reindeer suggest, that the animals from Haida Gwaii were not genetically distinct from the Canadian mainland reindeer subspecies.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reindeer
Diagram: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reindeer

Hiking Trails - Tonquin Valley - Day 4

[1-Ramparts and Amethyst Lakes]


This is a continuation of the post from last week where the hike stopped at the Amethyst Lakes campground.

While taking in the beauty of the pristine wilderness of the Tonquin Valley it is important to remember this is home to grizzly bears. Grizzlies tend to be grumpy and will bluff charge hikers if they get too close. Hikers should be in groups and make lots of noise on the trail to avoid surprise encounters. It is recommended to maintain a distance of 100 metres from bears and a minimum of 30 metres from other wildlife species.



[2-Grizzly bear track in Tonquin Valley]


The Tonquin Valley is used by woodland caribou in early June for calving (in side valleys), for feeding all summer and for the rut in October. There is controlled access for hikers to avoid confrontations with the caribou and the bears.



[3-Grizzly sow with cub - click to enlarge]


Other nasty residents to be wary of are the biting insects. To avoid the bears and the blood suckers is to visit later in the season in autumn. During the summer insect repellant and a mesh bug hat and jacket are necessary items to keep comfortable.



[4- Woodland Caribou in Tonquin Valley - click to enlarge]

The Woodland Caribou are considered an endangered species in Canada.

[5- Cotton Grass in Tonquin Valley]


Amethyst Lakes have Rainbow and Brook Trout for fishing enthusiasts.


[6- Lower end of Amethyst Lake with fish fins - click to enlarge]


There is winter access for skiers; however, it is strongly advised to have maps and good route finding skills to follow Portal Creek and the open areas of the valley floor. There are no signs advising the route. Avalanche training is required. Please visit here for information.


[7- Amethyst Lake and Ramparts]



[8-Outlet of Amethyst Lake forming Astoria River - click to enlarge]

At the outlet of the Amethyst Lakes follow the trail to the 1.5km mark downstream on the Astoria River where there is a bridge. This is a good place to refill the water bottles before going on to the Surprise Point Campground.


[9-Crossing Astoria River near Amethyst Lake]



[10-Astoria River in Tonquin Valley]


[11-South end of Tonquin Valley toward Surprise Point campground - click to enlarge]


[12-West over marshy area in Tonquin Valley]


After crossing a very wet meadow, probably teeming with mosquitos...


[13-Hiker in Tonquin Valley]


...at the 2 km point is the Surprise Point campground. This is considered the most popular campground in the Tonquin Valley, but it is in an exposed location. Surprise Point has four tenting sites with tent pads, bear poles with cables and a privy.



[14-Unnamed lake at Surprise Point campground - click to enlarge]





Source: ParksCanada

Photo Credits: [1][5][6][7][8][10][12][13]-brilang CC=nc-sa-flickr, [2][11]-drpritch CC=nc-sa-flickr, [3]-kiwehowin CC=nc-sa-flickr, [4]-Feffef CC=nc-sa-flickr. [9]-priya biswas CC-nc-flickr.