Caribou migration, hula hula river, anwr, alaska youtube. At base it is a travel memoir, in which bass shares the experience of his visit to the gwichin community of arctic village, his impressions of the residents, and especially his joining some gwichin hunters on an expedition in search of their sacred, lifesustaining caribou. More than 200,000 caribou migrate annually through the refuge. Choice of calving area depends on snow melt and early growth of forage plants. Caribou migration backpacking trip arctic backpacking in anwr. Therefore, the overall pollutants from oil exploration have negative impacts on both the habitat and migration of wildlife in the anwr 1002 area. In 1995, 92% of the porcupine caribou herd used this area to calve. Defending the porcupine herd, gwichin culture, and the arctic national wildlife refuge rick bass on. Its not that i wouldnt want to visit the anwr it sounds breathtakingly. Defending the porcupine herd, gwichin culture, and the.
Aug 28, 2005 the last refuge caribou migration, drilling plan symbolic of battle between oil and environment zachary coile, chronicle staff writer published 4. Caribou, with their elklike antlers and large hooves, are a cornerstone of the arctic ecosystem, providing food for inupiat hunters, as well as for key predators, such as wolves. The coastal plain is the calving ground of the porcupine caribou herd, with 85 per cent of harvesting from the herd taking. Barren ground caribou rangifer tarandus granti are found throughout the arctic. Caribou migration backpacking trip arctic backpacking in. The arctic national wildlife refuge was established in part to conserve wildlife and protect subsistence uses. A second caribou may be taken on this hunt on a trophy fee basis. The nelchina caribou herd roams the high basin surrounded by the.
Witness the incredible pocupine caribou migration in arctic canada, a magnificent migration to see on safari. Animals from the central arctic herd also sometimes calve in anwr. Bruce hiscock an introduction to caribou, their migration cycle and their relationship with the land and other animals. From the northern reaches of the yukon and northwest. Dec 01, 2010 both the porcupine caribou herd and the central arctic herd, migrating west over the expansive coastal plain of the refuge.
Wildlife views on the anwr caribou issue since the beginning the issue of caribou and oil has been a highly emotional and often misrepresented topic with regard to alaskan north slope oil exploration. Caribou photos from alaska and natural history information. The anwr porcupine caribou herd is one of the largest caribou herds in the world, with approximately 197,000 members u. Drilling in arctic refuge could put north americas largest caribou herd at risk. Drilling in arctic refuge could put north americas. If the refuge is opened to oil and gas development, how will those goals be met. Wolf may also be taken on this trip with no trophy fee. The caribou migration in arctic canada natural world safaris. The arctic national wildlife refuge anwr is part of the porcupine caribou herds annual migration route. This summer we will hike from the edge of the mountains across the flower covered coastal plain and out to the arctic ocean crossing 30 miles of some of the wildest and most remote land in america.
The largest untapped onshore reserve of oil in north america. Hit the river and see some of the best wildlife alaska has to offer. For those who have a special interest in this species, two animals may be taken. What the caribou taught me about being together, and apart. The arctic national wildlife refuge anwr is a whole lot more than just a flat wasteland as the oil companies claim it is.
Being caribou is a compelling film by a husband and wife of their fivemonth, mile, trek from the central yukon to coastal alaska and back as they follow the porcupine caribou herd. Dec 04, 2017 the pollution released by these oil sites causes death or illnesses that eventually lead to death to surrounding animals arctic national wildlife refuge, 2016. People of the caribou ancient sprucelog fences hundreds of yards long lichen covered and bleached silver with age if they are visible at all wend through the coniferous forests and across the shrubtussock meadows of the southern reaches of the arctic national wildlife refuge. In fact the porcupine caribou was around for the last two major glaciations and once grazed beside mastadons, woolly mammoths, and tried to. It resembles the subspecies known as the barrenground caribou r. The effect that oil development may have on caribou migrations. In some years, the porcupine herd calves only in canada. Nelchina caribou news alaska department of fish and game. It is a record of sheer courage, stamina and stubbornness to find and follow on foot, north americas counterpart to africas wildebeest migration.
Being caribou records an amazing odyssey of a remarkable couple. This was the first in a series of expeditions organized by the international league of conservation photographers to document the incredible landscapes, wildlife and people that depend on the refuge. Arctic national wildlife refuge native american rights fund. Believed to be the largest onshore oil reservoir with petroleum potential in the us, area 1002a 1. The eloquent voice of rick bass has been raised often in celebration and defense of americas wilderness and wildlife. If youre looking for a free download links of caribou and conoco. Nonfiction captivating pictures of the caribou and the other animals who are their predators. Rethinking environmental politics in alaskas anwr and beyond pdf, epub, docx and torrent then this site is not for you. Traveling to anwr during the caribou migration is a major wilderness trip, requiring expert knowledge and skills, or hooking up with a guide or ecotour. As of 2017, republicans have attempted to allow drilling in anwr almost fifty times, finally being successful with the passage of the tax cuts and jobs act of 2017. The question of whether to drill for oil in the arctic national wildlife refuge anwr has been an ongoing political controversy in the united states since 1977. The porcupine caribou herd is large than their cousins the central arctic herd but both follow the same migration time lines and patterns.
Alaska river trips and wilderness toursanwr, gates of the. They traveled over a thousand miles to study the caribou to produce a film of their migration to the artic national wildlife refuge anwr. The arctic national wildlife refuge anwr or arctic refuge is a national wildlife refuge in northeastern alaska, united states. In following the herds migration, the couple hopes to raise awareness of the threats to the caribou s survival. By july 2017, the porcupine herd had reached a record high of about 202,000 to 235,000 animals. The caribou migration was in progress join us on a raft trip down the hula hula river in the arctic national wildlife refuge. Arctic national wildlife refuge anwr caribou, birds.
Our team headed into alaskas arctic national wildlife refuge, home of wolverines, grizzlies, snowy owls and a herd of 200,000 caribou. The porcupine caribou or grants caribou rangifer tarandus granti is a subspecies of the reindeer or the caribou in north america found in alaska, united states, and adjacent parts of canada. No brief piece can tell the whole story regarding anwr, oil exploration, the porcupine caribou or the gwichin. In the 30 years of oil and gas exploration the arctic caribou have thrived. Some new research published in canada is sounding alarms about porcupine caribou and the risks of drilling in arctic alaska. Backpack arctic wildlife refuge alaska sierra club outings. The last refuge caribou migration, drilling plan symbolic. So close i could have reached out and touched their backs, the animals passed in single file on the path beside us. It is the story of a canadian wildlife biologistauthor karsten heuer, and his filmaker bride, leanne allison, who chose to spend five months traipsing 1,000 miles to find, follow and keep up with the porcupine caribou herd during its migration from inland wintering grounds in canadas northwest territories to summer. Aug 11, 2009 caribou migration which we experienced starting at 3.
The trump administration took another step toward allowing oil and gas drilling in the arctic national wildlife refuge by issuing a draft environmental. The refuge also fulfills uscanada treaty obligations related to the conservation of the porcupine caribou herd. Arctic national wildlife refuge known in alaska as anwr. The trip caribou migration proved worthy of its description as we witnessed a multitude of these beautiful animals making their way across alaskas brooks range.
This scenic backpacking trip traverses one of their favorite areas. Put in at drain creek and take out at caribou pass, and in between make every camp a layover camp, he says. The fish and wildlife services offical anwr page is dead, but this mirror site has much of the info. First the females and then the males trek through the passes of the. A push by lawmakers in congress to open parts of alaskas vast. The anwr, home to a network of plains, waters and mountains, provides an environment unlike almost anywhere else.
One is the porcupine herd and the other is the central arctic herd. A caribou is an excellent trophy to add to any hunt and a fine single species hunt for those new to alaskan hunting. In the far north of alaska where the sun circles the sky in june and trees seem like a distant memory, lies the famed coastal plain of the arctic national wildlife refuge. Barren ground caribou rangifer tarandus migrating on the coastal plain, section 1002, of the arctic national wildlife refuge. Schweiger has promised she will tell congress the truth.
For example, caribou are most sensitive at calving. Caribou migrate further than any other land mammal. Photos from alaskas arctic national wildlife refuge. Herds consist of bulls males, cows females, and calves young. See the caribou migration in arctic national wildlife refuge. Movement patterns of the porcupine caribou herd in relation to oil. They start out their journey as any young and adventurous couple would with a confidence and zeal out of scale to the immensity of their undertaking. In fact the porcupine caribou was around for the last two major glaciations and once grazed beside mastadons, woolly mammoths, and tried to avoid the sabretooth cat. On the northern edge of the continent where the brooks range nearly meets the arctic ocean, caribou amass in great herds at the end of june.
The sight of tens of thousands of animals meandering across the tundra prairie may be one. In years when theres deep snow on the winter range and along the migration routes, and when the spring snow melt is delayed by cold temperatures, caribou cows are delayed in reaching these preferred calving grounds. Its also a lot more than that as most of us dont know what the current debate about drilling for oil and gas in the anwr is all about. Tiny pests and warm weather can cause lag in caribou migration january 10, 2020 when spring comes to the arctic, caribou across canada and alaska synchronize the timing of their movement in a massive continentwide migration to their calving. Arctic circle has a great informative site on anwr. Talkeetna, chugach, wrangell, and alaska ranges in game management unit. The story of a husband and wife biologists who track the migration of caribou in order to show how important protecting their land is. As congress once again contemplates the wisdom, necessity and consequences of oil exploration in the arctic national wildlife refuge anwr, one of the most persistent arguments against it has been the alleged potential threat to the porcupine caribou herd, sonamed after the porcupine river, which is within the herds range. The proposed legislation would restrict oil exploration to the winter months, when the caribou have left for their winter range, and limit the surface area for oil wells and drill pads.
As the federal government moves to industrialize alaskas arctic national wildlife refuge, one photography project explores how the oil drilling would impact the wildlife and indigenous communities whove long inhabited the land. The people that live on the land want nothing to do with the drilling and the problems that go along with it. Wildlife views on the anwr caribou issue since the beginning the issue of caribou and oil has been a highly emotional and often misrepresented topic. In this featurelength documentary, husband and wife team karsten heuer wildlife biologist and leanne allison environmentalist follow a herd of 120,000 caribou on foot across 1500 km of arctic tundra. Lecture 15 the necklace around the arctic arctic indigenous peoples and anwr in alaska there are many sources of arctic literature.
Each year, the porcupine caribou herd embarks on one of the longest migrations on earth. The 197,000 member porcupine caribou herd has such a connection with the arctic national wildlife refuge. But anwr itself is so largealmost 10 times bigger than yellowstonethat finding the best stuff is no gimme. Backpacking anwr 2008 by brigid berger blurb books. Arctic national wildlife refuge native american rights. Testifying on behalf of wildlife nature writers defend. Being caribou wins grand prize in banff mountain book. In june 2008, my husband, allan and i joined a guided backpacking trip in the arctic national wildlife refuge with abecs dave hamilton. On one side are the militantly traditionalist gwichin7,000 people living in 15 settlements scattered along the caribous migration route between northeastern alaska and the canadian yukon. In spring the porcupine caribou herd migrates hundreds of miles from winter ranges located south of the brooks range in alaska, and from areas in yukon territory, to its traditional calving grounds on the arctic refuges coastal plain and foothills maps of yearly calving locations. Canada sees anwr drilling threat to bordercrossing caribou. Rick basss caribou rising is a perfect companion to banerjees book.
Why are some porcupine caribou herd calves born in canada or the. The gwichin fear that drilling in anwr will put an end to their existence as subsistence caribou hunters, while the inupiat worry that without development of anwrs gas and oil reserves. It is a record of sheer courage, stamina, and stubbornness to find and follow on foot north americas counterpart to africas wildebeest migration. Oil development and caribou science is a paper on the impact of oil development on caribou biology, w extensive bibliography. It is the largest national wildlife refuge in the country, slightly larger than the yukon delta national wildlife refuge. Drilling in the anwr and the arctic porcupine caribou problem. Migrating caribou on the arctic coastal plain, anwr.
The caribou rangifer tarandus is widely distributed on arctic tundras, mountains and boreal forests of eurasia and north america, including the arctic archipelago and the north coast of greenland. The porcupine caribou herd migration has become iconic for the arctic national wildlife refuge. The arctic national wildlife refuge in alaska is home to porcupine river caribou, vital to the gwichin people. The porcupine caribou herd has been around much longer than the automobile or the insatiable human appetite for oil. Exploring a timeless wilderness, before the drilling begins the. The refuge is administered from offices in fairbanks. Caribou on the coastal plain of the arctic national wildlife refuge. Why are some porcupine caribou herd calves born in canada or the mountains. Alaska caribou viewing where to see caribou migrations. Defending the porcupine herd, gwichin culture, and the arctic.
Do you think people would be willing to conserve fuel with efficient vehicles so the anwr would be protected from development. The flyleaf of the book says that it is an adventure narrative and it is. Central arctic caribou herd as its name suggests, the central arctic caribou herd roams the central region of northern alaska. You, the teacher and learner, are the best judge of how to use this book. We offer alaska river trips and basecamps throughout the brooks range, arctic national wildlife refuge, gates of the arctic national park, national petroleum reserve alaska, western arctic and many other subarctic locations. It was a close call, but being caribou made the worthreading list. Following the migration of the resilient caribou as they journey along harsh lands to reach.
Of nine living subspecies of caribou in the world, the barrenground caribou rangifer tarandus grand is the only one found in alaska banfield. When this happens, the calves are born along the migration routes and on. Natural history information and links to photo galleries where pictures can be licensed for commercial use or purchased for fine art prints for home or office. Caribou herds are constantly moving in search of food. Today, it is estimated at 32,000, a more than sixfold increase, at or near rangecarrying capacity. The welfare of the herd is a major consideration when discussing oil exploration in the arctic national wildlife refuge anwr and while the authors concern for the herd clearly played a part in their decision to embark on this trip and create a documentary film being caribou is a surprisingly nonpolitical book. Caribou use of the 1002 area of anwr varies dramatically from year to year. In the blink of an eye, a hunt for oil threatens pristine. Defending the porcupine herd, gwichin culture, and the arctic national wildlife refuge hardcover. Proponents of drilling insist the caribous migration wouldnt be affected by oil operations. Smaller than the porcupine caribou herd, which travels throughout the arctic national wildlife refuge, the central arctic herd was estimated at 70,000 in 2010 and has since declined to 22,000 in 2016. The noatak river coincides with the fall migration of the western arctic caribou herd and is a perfect time to watch. Barrenground caribou from the porcupine herd graze on cottongrass. Its also a lot more than that as most of us dont know what the current debate about drilling for oil and gas in the anwr is all.
Jul 17, 2017 in a state full of lifelist trips, theres still one dream that stands out above all others. The anwr is the only place on earth that someone can find a porcupine caribou. Trump administration takes another step toward oil. They have separate calving grounds and share the same range in summer and fall. Migrating caribou on the arctic coastal plain, anwr, alaska. The porcupine caribou or grants caribou rangifer tarandus granti is a subspecies of the. While it is possible to drive up the dalton highway to places within walking distance of the 19.
Testifying on behalf of wildlife nature writers defend alaskan. The arctic national wildlife refuge anwr covers 19 million acres 7. The sun setting on the 1002 area of the arctic national wildlife refuge in alaska. In response to bush administration threats to open the arctic to oil drilling, a married team of wildlife biologists follow the porcupine caribou herd migration to the calving grounds on the coastal plain in the arctic national wildlife refuge in order to make a documentary. During the brief spring and summer, the arctic national wildlife refuge is a land of wild rivers rushing with snowmelt, ranging predators, migrating birds, prolific wildflowers, and the vast porcupine caribou herd on its annual migration from eastern canada to its ancestral calving grounds on the coastal plain. Pictures of anwr arctic national wildlife refuge in alaska. On the trail of the porcupine caribou herd the narwhal. Commercial airlines service arctic village, kaktovik, fort yukon, and dead horse, which are jumping off points for most anwr trips. The herd has sustained alaskans for centuries and is managed today to ensure hunting opportunities for present and future generations.
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