Forest fires can affect caribou habitat by removing lichen, a staple of their winter diet. Fires can also stimulate the growth of shrubs, which increases numbers of moose and deer, which in turn increases predator populations that prey on caribou. With projected increases in the frequency and severity of fires as a result of a warming climate, it is vital to understand the relationship between caribou and burned landscapes. In conjunction with the ABMI’s Caribou Monitoring Unit (now the Wildlife Science Centre) and the Regional Industry Caribou Collaboration, Sean Konkolics, a Masters student with Dr. Stan Boutin, explored the impact of wildfire on caribou populations in northeastern Alberta. See the infographic below for more information or check out the publication here.
