Nelson Sergerie

GASPÉ – Weather-permitting, operations to capture female caribou in the Parc de la Gaspésie will take place soon.

The Ministry of Wildlife specifies that it is difficult to predict the exact time of the start of the operation, which remains uncertain due to weather conditions and the involvement of helicopters. The targeted period is from February to March, and the teams are closely monitoring conditions to ensure the safety of both the caribou and the personnel involved. This year only the Mount McGerrigle enclosure will be used.

Almost a year after the first operation, the ministry says that the captures, enclosures, care and monitoring of the caribou took place as planned last year.

“Although deaths due to infections beyond our control occurred last summer, they do not call into question the monitoring methods and the conditions of custody,” writes the ministry in response to our questions.
It is specified that the risks of perinatal mortality of natural origin for fawns and females remain.

During the previous operation, conducted between March 18 and April 6, two of the six female caribou that were captured were pregnant. Unfortunately, none of the fawns survived, and one caribou died from a uterine infection following giving birth.

Of the five caribou released from the enclosure in August, four quickly joined herds of caribou on different peaks, including Mont Jacques-Cartier. The other caribou was shot by a hunter only a few weeks after her release.

In this regard, the investigation and analysis of the evidence are still ongoing at the Protection de la Faune du Québec and no other information is being released in order to not impact the investigation.

Currently, six caribou, four female and two male, are being monitored using telemetry collars. Their movements indicate that after the rutting period, the caribou dispersed towards less exposed habitats, under forest cover, and currently form herds of a few dozen.

The caribou population in the Gaspé Peninsula is estimated at between 32 and 36 animals.