Easy mining

B.C. changes rules for mining companies in caribou habitat.

John Bergenske, executive director of Wildsight, said the change means a professional caribou biologist will not review a mining company’s exploration plans before approval – and that can only hurt the species.

Environmentalists note fewer than 2,000 mountain caribou still exit in B.C. The animal is listed as threatened federally, and is “red-listed” in B.C. – a term that applies to both threatened and endangered species.

Caribou are at risk from logging of old-growth habitat as well as a full range of human activities, including mining and recreational activities. Wolves and cougars are their chief predators.

“With mountain caribou, it’s death by a thousand cuts,” Bergenske said.