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In 1985, woodland caribou were added to Alberta's endangered
wildlife list. Population numbers have been declining since early
this century. Today, fewer than 7,000 remain, sparsely distributed
over northern and west-central Alberta.
Logging, coal mining and oil and gas exploration have greatly
reduced the woodland caribou's habitat. When large areas of old-growth
coniferous forests are logged, moose, deer and elk populations
increase. As their prey become more plentiful, more wolves move
in. Caribou are most vulnerable to wolves, so they suffer the
greatest losses. This increased predation, triggered by resource
exploitation that fails to take Caribou needs into account, along
with overhunting -- legal and illegal -- are the main reasons
for the decline of woodland caribou in their southern range.
Alberta Environmental Protection's wildlife management branch
has enlisted the help of the oil, gas and forestry industries
to protect caribou habitat. The branch also hopes to reduce wolf
predation and illegal hunting. Many caribou have been fitted with
radio collars to aid biologists with data collection.
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