We all know the iconic image of the caribou wandering majestically across the snow-covered landscape. But have you ever stopped to think about what these creatures are eating? That's the question that has driven a group of researchers into the wilds of the Wolverine, Chase, and Thutade herd range in British Columbia. They are working to better understand the quality and quantity of winter forage available to the caribou.

The survey, conducted for the BC government, aims to determine if the caribou are limited in their range by the availability of lichen winter forage. The researchers use circular plots with a 12.5-meter radius to measure the abundance of arboreal lichen (the type that grows on trees) and terrestrial lichens (the type that grows on the ground). They count all trees, snags, and stumps, as well as measure the percent cover of each species of terrestrial lichen present within the plot.

The data gathered by the researchers will be used to refine a statistical model that predicts the presence, abundance, and biomass of both terrestrial and arboreal caribou forage lichens within the surveyed herd ranges. This model will incorporate variables such as soil nutrient levels, soil moisture, basal area tree canopy composition, and others to predict the relative abundance of both types of lichen.

The results of this study will allow land managers to better identify the important low-elevation caribou winter habitats and whether winter forage abundance is a limiting factor for caribou in these ranges. Changes on the landscape are accelerating, and the threat to caribou is habitat alteration, fragmentation, and loss that results from industrial activities and natural disturbances such as fire. This study's practical efforts are needed to identify and protect these important low-elevation caribou winter habitats.

Despite the challenges of long days, difficult weather conditions, and difficult-to-access locations, the researchers maintain their focus on the task at hand, aided by the presence of their furry friends. "Piper is a lab mix and Scout is a small terrier mix; they absolutely love driving in the truck and sniffing around every plot that we stopped to survey," one researcher says. "Working long days in the field is so much easier knowing that the dogs are at my side, having their best day."

The researchers' dogs are more than just companions; they play a vital role in keeping the researchers' spirits up and providing a sense of normalcy and fun in an otherwise challenging work environment. "Even in difficult field conditions, raining cold long days, the dogs are still having a good time, and that's what gets me through the day".

The study of winter forage is critical for caribou management, as winter is the time of year when food is most limited, and environmental conditions are most difficult. Thanks to the dedicated work of these biologists and their furry friends, we are one step closer to understanding the needs of these magnificent caribou herds and to doing what we can to support their survival in their native ranges.