Caring for Caribou

We caribou-t making sure our woodland caribou have food they lichen!

Earlier this fall, our very own Dr. Larisa Jancewicz, Supervisor of Animal Nutrition, took part in our Lichen Harvesting Program. This program is supported by our friends at TC Energy and builds on community partnerships and conservation science to supply woodland caribou with a critical staple of their diet. Caribou eat lichen year-round in addition to other plant material like forbs, sedges, and grasses, but when forage is scarce in winter, lichen is the backbone of woodland caribou nutrition. It makes up 85% of their diet!

Dr. Larisa joined with students from Grande Cache, a hamlet north of Jasper National Park, as well as community partners from Caribou Patrol and Asenewuche Winewak Nation (AWN). Together, they harvested four potato sacks of Cladonia (ground/reindeer lichen), many large branches of Bryoria (horsehair lichen), and some Usnea lichen. This harvest took place just outside of typical woodland caribou territory to avoid disturbing sensitive boreal forest habitat. These lichens were sorted to remove debris, dried, bagged for safe storage, and given to our woodland caribou herd as a nutritious and natural addition to their diet.

Lichen is a symbiotic partnership between fungi and alga, and it is known for being incredibly slow-growing – some forms grow only one millimetre per year! With the IUCN Red List classifying woodland caribou as Vulnerable due to deforestation and climate change, threats to lichen consequently threaten the survival of this beautiful species. We’re proud to be part of ethical harvesting practices like our Lichen Harvesting Program, helping to strengthen environmental resilience and fostering a deeper relationship between people and wildlife.