Summer Behaviour of the Bathurst Caribou at Mine Sites

Organization / Researcher: GNWT, Anne Gunn

Length of Project: 3 years (1996-1998)

Personnel involved: At least 15 including the relevant Hunter and Trapper Committees, the Dogrib Renewable Resources Committee, The Yellowknives Dene Land and Environment Committee and the Lutselk'e Land and Wildlife Committee.

Total Project Expenditures: $72,530

The Board does not consider this report to be an official report of the Society, and its contents are the sole responsibility of the author.

Significant exploration and mining developments are taking place around the Bathurst caribou herd's calving grounds and migration routes. Caribou seem to be attracted to mining infrastructure such as tailings ponds, airstrips and roads.

In this project, researchers and remote cameras observed caribou behaviour around mine sites and tested two methods of diverting caribou from mine sites and other developments. Near Lupin mine, a wood and rope fence with plastic flutters based on a traditional Dogrib design was successful in restricting the movements of caribou. None crossed the wood and rope fence once it was completed. The second method involved laying a sheet of plastic on the ground and was less successful: almost half of the caribou crossed the plastic.

Native elders were involved in designing the tradition-based test barrier and in observing and commenting on the caribou behavior. Researchers also measured temperature, wind and fly activity, and documented other caribou behavior around the mine site. It was observed that caribou were resting on tailings areas and feeding nearby even when mosquitoes were not present, possibly because there is no cover to conceal predators.

Researchers also collected plants and measured dust levels near roads and tailings ponds to see whether dust affects plants growing in the area. Minor effects were observed at one of two sites - lower vegetation cover and absence of dwarf shrubs.

Summer Behaviour of the Bathurst Caribou at Mine Sites and Response of Caribou to Fencing and Plastic Defectors

Effect of Gravel Road and Tailing Pond Dust on Tundra Plant Communities near Lupin Mine, NT    

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