List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order (SI/2022-7)

Two mountain caribou populations in western Canada are currently listed in Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act— the Woodland Caribou (Southern Mountain population), listed as a threatened species in 2003, and the Woodland Caribou (Northern Mountain population), listed as a species of special concern in 2005.

In 2011, COSEWIC defined twelve new designatable units (DUs) to support assessments of caribou across Canada. In particular, it split the two currently listed mountain caribou populations in western Canada into three new DUs and modified their boundaries.

In 2014, COSEWIC provided its assessment of the status of the newly structured DUs for mountain caribou in western Canada in its “COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Caribou Rangifer tarandus, Northern Mountain population, Central Mountain population and Southern Mountain population in Canada – 2014” (the 2014 report).

Based on the uncertainties relating to the delineation of the three DUs for mountain caribou in western Canada, insufficient genetic information, the lack of inclusion of Indigenous knowledge with respect to the creation of the DUs, as well as recent changes in population size of some affected herds, the assessments in the 2014 report are referred back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration. The Department of the Environment is committed to working with COSEWIC on this matter.