Federal Register, Volume 76, Number 65, April 5, 2011, Pages 18631-18860 Page: 18,705

                                
Federal Register/Vol. 76, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 5, 2011 /Proposed Rules

602; Struzik 1998, pp. 38-44). Both
subspecies of caribou forage by pushing
snow away from vegetation and by
breaking through hard-packed snow to
reach vegetation. The petitioner
provided information with the petition
that states that climate change may
result in irregular winter events such as
freezing rain or heavy snow
accumulation, which may not allow
caribou access to vegetation (COSEWIC
2004, pp. 51-52). If these conditions
occur, both species could suffer
widespread starvation (Miller and
Gunn, 2003, p. 6). This type of
starvation has been the primary cause of
decline in the past. The extreme
mortality events-between 1973 and
1974 and between 1994 and 1997-
coincided with extremely heavy
snowfall, deep snow packs, and heavy
icing in those same years (Miller and
Gunn 2003, pp. 5-6). After reviewing
the information provided in the petition
and available in our files, we find that
the information provided presents
substantial information indicating that
the petitioned action may be warranted
for both subspecies due to increased
snowfall events and freezing rain.
Low genetic diversity was an issue
raised by the petitioner as a stressor on
the subspecies. We will further evaluate
this during the status review.
Dolphin and Union Caribou
A. The Present or Threatened
Destruction, Modification, or
Curtailment of the Dolphin and Union
Caribou's Habitat or Range
The petitioner states that the waters of
the Dolphin and Union Strait will
become navigable to large ships in the
near future based on decreased sea ice
due to global warming, and that these
ships will disrupt caribou movement.
The petitioner suggested that shipping
traffic has, in the past, interrupted the
migration of the Dolphin and Union
caribou. Other than expression of
concern, the supporting information did
not indicate that this increase in
shipping traffic has had a negative
impact on the subspecies (COSEWIC
2004, pp. 46-47). The petitioner also
suggests that caribou will be adversely
affected by the increasing development
associated with shipping and oil
exploration. Although oil development
and increased shipping may occur, there
is no evidence that it will have a
significant effect on caribou. After
reviewing the information provided in
the petition and available in our files, it
does not support the claim that oil
exploration, and an increase in

human activity will affect the Dolphin
and Union caribou's habitat.
The petitioner provides no other
information addressing Factor A, and
we have no information in our files
indicating that listing the subspecies
due to the present or threatened
destruction, modification, or
curtailment of the Dolphin and Union
caribou's habitat or range may be
warranted. Therefore, we find that the
petition does not present substantial
information to indicate that the
petitioned action may be warranted
based on the present or threatened
destruction, modification, or
curtailment of its habitat or range.
B. Overutilization for Commercial,
Recreational, Scientific, or Educational
Purposes
The petitioner identifies hunting of
the Dolphin and Union caribou as a
possible factor in the decline of this
subspecies. The petition reports that
this subspecies is hunted by the Inuit
for subsistence, and it is also hunted
commercially along the mainland on the
north coast bordering the Dolphin and
Union Strait. Various management units
such as the NWMB, the Wildlife
Management Advisory Council for the
Inuvialuit Settlement Region in the
Northwest Territories, the Canadian
Department of Environment, and the
Inuit and Inuvialuit tribes play a role in
the regulation of hunting of the various
caribou populations at the larger scale.
At more local scales, committees and
trapper associations are involved in
monitoring caribou. Hunting has not
been implicated as a causative factor in
any of the major caribou die-offs. The
hunting of this subspecies appears to be
sufficiently managed by the local
hunting boards, the local indigenous
peoples of Canada such as the Inuit and
Inuvialuit, who are allowed to hunt
caribou for subsistence. Based on the
information available in the petition and
in our files, hunting does not appear to
be causing a decline in the Dolphin and
Union caribou.
The petitioner did not indicate any
other threats under this factor. After
reviewing the information provided in
the petition and available in our files,
we find that the information provided
does not present substantial information
indicating that the petitioned action
may be warranted due to overutilization
for commercial, recreational, scientific,
or educational purposes.
C. Disease or Predation
Refer to the discussion under Factor
C above for Peary caribou for additional
information. Based on the information

our files, we find that the petition does
not present substantial information
indicating that listing the Dolphin and
Union caribou as endangered or
threatened may be warranted due to
disease or predation.
D. The Inadequacy of Existing
Regulatory Mechanisms
Refer to the discussion under Factor
D above for Peary caribou for additional
information. After reviewing the
information provided in the petition
and available in our files, we find that
the information provided presents
substantial information indicating that
listing the Dolphin and Union caribou
as endangered or threatened may be
warranted due to the inadequacy of
existing regulatory mechanisms.
E. Other Natural or Manmade Factors
Affecting the Continued Existence of
Dolphin and Union Caribou
The petitioner states that global
climate change presents the greatest
threat to the Dolphin and Union
caribou's habitat. We currently do not
know the extent of the subspecies'
capacity to adapt to potential changes in
its habitat resulting from climate
change. However, there is an upward
trend in temperature which may
decrease sea ice in the Dolphin and
Union Strait (refer to discussion above).
This subspecies crosses the sea ice in
the Strait seasonally, and this decrease
in sea ice may affect the species'
migration patterns and availability to
access food sources. Seasonally, herds
congregate at the edge of the Strait while
waiting for the ice to form. Energetic
costs will increase if they have to travel
greater distances to locate food sources,
and foraging efficiency is reduced. Over
time, poor body condition could lead to
lower reproductive rates, greater
susceptibility to disease or predation,
and ultimately higher mortality rates.
The loss of seasonal ice across the
Dolphin and Union Strait could reduce
access to traditional foraging areas and
it may increase competition among
individuals for food resources in areas
close to staging grounds. After
reviewing the information provided in
the petition and available in our files,
we find that the information provided
presents substantial information
indicating that the petitioned action
may be warranted due to changes in sea
ice (also refer to the discussion under
Factor E above for Peary caribou). We
intend to investigate the effects of
climate change, particularly the changes
in sea ice, on the Dolphin and Union

provided in the petition and available in

18705

shipping, development, and related

caribou during the status review.