An Educator’s Guide to Wild Caribou of North America Copyright 2018 This book may be reproduced for educational purposes only. The illustrations may be duplicated solely for instructional use of this material. Reproduction for any other purpose is strictly prohibited without written permission from the publisher. For more information please contact: Environmental Education and Youth Programs Government of Yukon, Department of Environment Conservation Officer Services Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 (867) 667-3675 or 1-800-661-0408 fax (867) 393-6206 [email protected] ISBN: 978-1-55362-794-4 Photo and illustration credits Government of Yukon, Department of Environment Government of Northwest Territories 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 55, 65, 78, 87, 89 90, 94, 98, 99, 100, 102, 122 Government of Nunavut Doug Urquhart (illustrations) 132 3, 20, 26, 27, 29, 31, 34, 36, 42, 53, 63, 68, 75, 84, 98, 121 Joyce Majiski Government of Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service Cover, i 2, 9, 15, 18, 22, 24 Tanya Handley (illustrations) vii, 37, 40, 43, 102, 103 Jennifer Staniforth (illustrations) 4, 5, 10, 63 Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board (illustrations) 47, 48, 49, 50 Northern Contaminants Committee 37, 40, 42, 43 Government of Quebec 112, 115 Project Caribou An Educator’s Guide to Wild Caribou of North America Project manager: Remy Rodden, Government of Yukon, Department of Environment Consultants: Darielle Talarico, Arctic Vision, Whitehorse, Yukon Principal writer: Kirsten Madsen, Whitehorse, Yukon Original illustrations: Jennifer Staniforth, Doug Urquhart, Tanya Handley Cover: Joyce Majiski Editing and production: Walker LeBrun Creative Services, Whitehorse, Yukon Government of Yukon, Department of Environment (2018 edition) Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board i Project Caribou Acknowledgments Project Caribou is the result of the Sharon Russell Nova Scotia efforts of many individuals. We hope we Darielle Talarico Doug Urquhart Department of Natural Resources haven’t omitted anyone in the following Julie Towers list. If so, our apologies. You are Northwest Territories appreciated! Saskatchewan Department of Environment and Yukon Natural Resources Ministry of Environment Department of Environment Anne Gunn Lizabeth Nicholls Bruce Bennett Brenda Hans Tim Trottier Jean Carey Nic Larter Kathi Egli John Nagy Manitoba Rick Farnell Rosanna Strong Rob Florkiewicz Alasdair Veitch Manitoba Conservation Troy Hegel Jan Adamczewski Cam Elliott Gerry Kuzyk Bruno Croft Michael Goodyear Ross Leef Kerri Garner Other Dan Lindsey Ryan Brook Val Loewen Todd Powell Nunavut Remy Rodden Department of Environment Alaska Mike Suitor Mike Ferguson Department of Fish and Game Vanessa Stewart Elise Maltin Robin Dublin Michal Wojcik Meghan Nedwick Department of Education Jennifer Dau Denise Chisholm Newfoundland & Labrador National Parks Service May Gudmundson Department of Fisheries and Kyle Joly Linda Hamilton Land Resources Elaine McLeod Ralph Jarvis Bureau of Land Management Cathy Harrison Lucy O’Driscoll Ruth Gronquist Colleen O’Brien Eleonor O’Donovan Vern Peters Ontario British Columbia Janet McDonald WILD BC/Habitat Conservation Trevor Ratcliff Ministry of Natural Resources and Grace Snider Forestry Trust Fund Trudy Veres Ted Armstrong Kerrie Post Barrie Martin Henry Wensink Ministry of Environment Tom Purdy Roslyn Wilson Ian Hatter Canadian Wildlife Service Other Joan Eamer Sue Gesner Don Russell Non-Government Organizations Debbie van de Wetering Linda Hoffman, Quebec Porcupine Caribou Management Board Canadian Heritage Department of Natural Resources Gunther Abrahamson and Leslie Brent Liddle and Wildlife Wakelyn, Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Margret Njootli Diane Ostiguy Caribou Management Board Other Christine Robitaille Martin Hugues St-Laurent Luba Mycio-Mommers, Margeurite Kuiack Canadian Wildlife Federation Kirsten Madsen Université Laval Joyce Majiski Steeve Côté Jill Pangman ii An Educator’s Guide to Wild Caribou of North America Contents Using this resource iv Preface to first edition v Case studies Preface to second edition vi The woodland caribou, migratory ecotype 107 The woodland caribou, forest-dwelling ecotype 113 All about caribou The caribou of the Gaspé Peninsula 116 The Porcupine caribou herd 121 Caribou and you 2 The Qamanirjuaq caribou herd 126 Origins of caribou 3 The Telkwa caribou herd 134 Adapted for northern living 4 The Western Arctic caribou herd 138 Caribou behaviour 6 Caribou communication 8 Caribou habitat 9 Appendices What do caribou eat? 10 Appendix 1: Conceptual framework 145 Natural threats to caribou 12 Appendix 2: Glossary 147 Seasonal movements of caribou 17 Humans and caribou 20 Cross-referencing index Human-related threats to caribou 24 Studying caribou in the wild 29 Grade index 151 Working to protect caribou 30 Subject index 152 How can you help protect caribou? 31 Skills index 153 Topic index 155 Activities Barren-ground caribou migration 35 Bioaccumulation: the story of time 41 Bot fly boogie 44 Build-a-caribou 51 Caribou bingo 54 Caribou and mammoth together? 62 Caribou need a home, too! 64 Checks and balances 66 Co-management role play 73 Dilemmas caribou style 77 First Peoples’ stories about caribou 84 Likin’ lichen 90 Song for a caribou 93 Symbolic caribou 96 What is a caribou herd? 99 Ya gotta lichen caribou! 101 iii Project Caribou Using this resource You, the teacher and learner, are the best judge of how to use this book. In this section we’d like to point out the features and general layout, so that you can best decide how it will be of use in your particular context. The “All About Caribou” section contains basic, factual background information on caribou in North America, including information on basic biology, ecosystem interactions, and management and protection issues. This is the section to which you and your students may refer for an overview of specific or general topics. Basic research can be done using this section. The “Activities” section presents 16 activities that cover several different caribou topics and reflect a range of teaching methods and target age/ grade levels. The layout is based on the Project WILD model, so you may be familiar with it. If not, note that each activity includes a sidebar identifying the age, subject, skills that are addressed, as well as its setting and duration. If the activity does not directly target your grade level, please make adaptations; in fact, we offer suggestions as to how you might modify the activity for a lower or higher age level. The “Case Studies” section offers in-depth information about a number of North American caribou herds. You may wish to compare different herds, so each case study is presented in a standard format. The “Appendices” consist of two helpful references: the “Conceptual Framework” that guided the development of Project Caribou and gives a sense of what caribou experts feel is important for all learners to understand, and a glossary of terms used in this guide. Various options in the “Cross-referencing Index” allow you to access portions of the text in different ways. iv An Educator’s Guide to Wild Caribou of North America Preface to first edition Caribou touch us in many ways, some of which we may not even be Most of the activities in this book are the aware. Canadians daily see the image of the caribou on the 25-cent coin. result of a two-day writing workshop held th Santa’s reindeer are an indelible part of Christmas for millions of North concurrently with the 8 Annual North American Caribou Conference in Americans. Many First Nation groups depend on caribou as a staple food Whitehorse in 1998. Biologists, teachers, source. Images of the huge northern herds remind us of our last true wildlife educators and others came wilderness areas. Caribou are an inescapable part of our cultural together to learn about caribou and landscape, and somehow we all share a deep-rooted respect for this generate activity ideas – a very stimulating incredible animal. creative process. Special thanks to all those who participated! Project Caribou was conceived in recognition of the importance of Rangifer tarandus. Many biologists now view caribou as an indicator species for ecosystem health in the North. If caribou populations are faltering, it means that we should be on the lookout for changes in other aspects of the environment as well. Project Caribou is the result of the efforts of a group of dedicated individuals who believe a well-informed populace – beginning with teachers and school-age children – is vital to the long-term survival of caribou and their habitat. These individuals collectively spent a considerable amount of time on this learning resource. The work was carried out in addition to their regular heavy workloads and, in many cases, without pay. They are true champions for the natural environment. Please refer to the Acknowledgments page for a list of contributors. Our goal was to produce a learning package general enough for use in any context, yet with specific case study information to meet specific regional needs. It is also a dynamic resource to be supplemented, adapted and updated for years to come. It must be acknowledged that many wonderful learning packages on caribou have preceded this one, most notably those produced by the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq and Porcupine Caribou Management boards. Project Caribou is seen as a way of building and complementing existing resources and making caribou education available to a wider audience. We hope through the use of Project Caribou that you will pick up some of the infectious enthusiasm for caribou that is shared by those who have put this package together. After all, the caribou’s future is deeply linked with our own. Remy Rodden Manager, Environmental Education and Youth Programs Government of Yukon, Department of Environment v Project Caribou Preface to second edition Welcome to the updated edition of Project Caribou. Since the first edition was published in 2001, we have become even more aware of this keystone species and its importance in northern ecosystems.