Wildfires are pushing Alberta's caribou to the brink

The relentless wildfires in Alberta are decimating the already endangered woodland caribou population, raising urgent questions about their survival.

Trina Moyles reports for The Narwhal.

In short:

• Alberta's woodland caribou are losing critical habitat to unprecedented wildfires, with 2023 alone seeing over 5% of their range destroyed.
• The caribou, adapted to old-growth forests, now face threats from more frequent and severe fires, further compounded by human disturbances like logging and oil extraction.
• Indigenous communities and environmental groups are increasingly alarmed, noting that without immediate action, caribou may vanish from Alberta's landscape.

Key quote:

“It’s a question that could extend beyond caribou. How do we account for climate change and these larger events, whether it’s wildfires, rain, snow or flooding, in management plans and conservation efforts?”

— Laura Finnegan, caribou program manager, fRI Research

Why this matters:

With only 2,000 of these animals remaining in Alberta, the question looms: can they adapt quickly enough to survive, or are we witnessing the final chapter in the story of these once-thriving herds? Read more: US wildfires’ increasing toll on wildlife.