The holiday season has come and passed. Some of us find ourselves with a few extra presents, many of us find ourselves with a few extra pounds. Whatever it is we’ve gained this winter, it seems as though Santa is facing the opposite problem.

Santa’s reindeer—or caribou as they’re more commonly known in North America—are in serious trouble. From the migratory barren ground herds in the northern tundra to the more southerly forest-dwelling woodland caribou found in the boreal forest, Santa’s friends (and main mode of transportation) are declining in the wake of habitat loss, predation, and a changing environment.

Dangerous road crossing for a young caribou in Quebec.
Credit: Valerie Courtois, Canadian Boreal Initiative

Justina Ray, a colleague of mine and Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, recently wrote a well-timed and well-written opinion piece in the New York Times highlighting the plight of our caribou to the north:
Read op-ed in NY Times >

While caribou numbers have historically fluctuated up and down, she notes an important difference for caribou this time around:

“In the barren lands of the far north, where caribou numbers have undergone natural fluctuations over decades, the question is whether the declining populations will have the chance and the space to rebound as their ranges, particularly their calving areas, face mineral exploration, mine, oil and gas development, and a changing climate.”

While there are some factors behind their decline mostly out of our control, such as forest fires, we do have the ability to make an impact in other areas. Habitat loss and degradation is widely considered to be the leading factor behind their long-term decline, which was echoed in a paper I coauthored with other leading scientists last summer. Climate change is another threat we can make a difference on.

Woodland caribou have lost much of their southern habitat (in red).
Credit: International Boreal Conservation Campaign

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) has a petition up for Canadian leaders to protect this iconic species from further decline. They are only 10,000 signatures short of their goal of 36,000, the estimated number of woodland caribou remaining in the wild.

So unless you’re comfortable with the idea of Santa hitching a ride next Christmas Eve, I highly suggest you add your name to the list!
Sign petition >