dwot (32.15)

Mineral Rights in Calving Grounds

February 18, 2010 – Comments (3)

One of the things about living in the north is I am learning about northern issues.  Lately I have been studying the caribou.  There are many species of caribou, but the herds appear to be in massive decline lately.

Something I was reading about the Caribou today is that there are 350 mineral right claims on caribou calving grounds in Nunavat.  Of course the mining companies claim they have little impact on the caribou, however, the mortality rate of the calves is already 50% in the first month.  Aircraft will cause caribou to stampede and if a calf loses its mother no other caribou cow will nurse it and it will die.

The other thing about companies coming is they bring roads and roads bring hunters.  In general, when roads are built, caribou herds in the areas the roads have access to decline.