 |
Bluenose-East
Herd
The Bluenose-East herd
calving grounds are located in the area of the Rae and Richardson rivers
west of Kugluktuk, NU. The
post calving range of the herd includes this area and south to Dismal
Lake, west to Bluenose Lake and north to the Arctic Coast.
In late summer the herd migrates south-westward to the area around
Caribou Point on Great Bear Lake. The
herd ruts and winters in the area north, east, and south of Great Bear
Lake.
The
Bluenose-East herd was first censused as a distinct herd in 2000. A
photocensus was completed in early July 2000. Caribou that occupied the
range of the Bluenose-East herd prior to 2000 were not censused
effectively and, as a result, there are not data to determine population
trend.
In 2000
the Bluenose-East herd was estimated at approximately 104,000 (range 84,412
- 126,100) non-calf caribou. Another photocensus was completed during the
summer of 2005. The results of this census showed the Bluenose-East herd had
declined to 66,600 animals. A photocensus survey, completed in July
2006, confirmed herd size at an estimated 66,200.
|
Year |
Population Estimate (non calf)
|
Range (95% CI) |
|
2000 |
104,000
|
84,410 – 126,100 |
|
2005 |
66,600 |
62,200 – 70,970 |
| 2006 |
66,186 |
62,625
–
69,747 |
|
