PR (Wolf 2020): 136 - June 2019 Calving Ground Composition Surveys of Bathurst and Bluenose-East Barren-ground Caribou Herds

This report describes the results of calving ground composition surveys of the Bathurst and Bluenose-East caribou herds conducted in June of 2019 near Bathurst Inlet and west of Kugluktuk in Nunavut (NU). The main purpose of the surveys was to estimate the proportion of breeding females (cows that gave birth as a proportion of all cows) which indicates the initial calf productivity on the two calving grounds. In addition, the surveys estimated the relative distribution of breeding caribou on each calving ground as well as relative abundance of predators.