Question and Answer Key

Winter Travel

• If the river (or lake) is frozen for a shorter period of time, how could this affect hunting and trapping?
  [People can’t get out to trap or ice fish if travel isn’t safe or the risk of traveling increases.]
• If the ice freezes, but is not as thick as it used to, how could this affect hunting and trapping?
  [Travel over ice becomes less predictable and less safe. It may mean that travel over ice is not possible at all. For some people, this may mean they cannot do certain activities at all. For others, it may mean much longer and therefore more expensive travel or access only to less desirable locations. It may also mean there is more hunting, trapping or fishing pressure on the areas that are accessible.]
• How is travel on the land affected where the permafrost is melting?
  [For an example, read about residents of Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, from the same article as cited above: “Melting permafrost has caused shorelines to erode and streaks of sodden muck to trap their snowmobiles, four-wheelers and sleds.” p. 63]
• If winter temperatures are warmer and it takes a long time for the rivers to freeze how could this make travel difficult?
  [When there are ice pans on the river, boat travel is difficult because small bits of ice can block the water intake (the engines are water-cooled) and burn out the engine. Warmer weather can also extend the period of time when it is not possible to boat across or cross on the ice.]

Trapping

• What happens to fur-bearing animals like marten, fox and lynx if there is a warm winter?
  [The fur is not as dense, because the animal doesn’t need a thick a coat to stay warm. The trapper doesn’t get as much money for the fur. Some people don’t trap, because the fur isn’t good enough quality.]

Hunting

• What can happen to caribou when there is a lot of temperature fluctuation during the winter? How would this affect hunting?
  [During the winter these animals “crater” through the snow with their hoofs to get to their primary food source, lichen. If there is a freeze-thaw cycle it can be difficult for caribou to break through the ice crust that forms on top of the snow. Theyhave to expend more energy getting their food and as a result are in poorer shape after the winter. As with any stress, if this kind of freezing and thawing were to become a regular occurrence population numbers might be affected. Weakened animals become easier prey, are more susceptible to diseases, and may have a lower birth rate.]
  
  OR
• What can happen to caribou if it rains during the winter?
  [During the winter caribou “crater” through the snow with their hoofs to get to their primary food source, lichen. If it rains, and then the temperature drops below freezing, ice forms over the snow making it difficult for caribou to get to the lichen or other forage. They have to expend more energy getting their food and end up in poorer shape after the winter. As with any stress, if this rain during the winter were to become a regular occurrence, population numbers might be affected. Weakened animals become easier prey, are more susceptible to diseases, and may have a lower birth rate.]
• What can happen to muskoxen if it rains during the winter?
  [In winter mukoxen spend more time on hilltops, slopes and plateaus where vegetation exposed by the wind.
  “If rain or sleet falls late in the year, or frequent thawing and freezing occurs, a crust of ice may form over the tundra, followed by deep snow. Under such circumstances, muskoxen have great difficulty in foraging beneath the ice and may die of starvation. Normally, if there is only a light crust of snow over the vegetation, muskoxen can break through by pawing. A stronger crust can be broken by the animal lifting its head and dropping its nose onto the surface. The muskox then paws in the crater, pushes away the broken ice and feeds on the exposed browse.” (http://www.nwtwildlife.rwed.gov.nt.ca/NWTwildlife)]
• How could warmer winters affect caribou migration?
  [Migration routes would have to change if rivers and lakes that the caribou normally cross are not frozen. More caribou might drown breaking through the ice. Or, as in northern Quebec, caribou might take to the highway. This would make them vulnerable to over-harvesting, or it could take them away from traditional hunting areas.
  
  “The world’s largest herd of caribou is using a major highway for its annual migration this year, causing unprecedented traffic tie-ups in Labrador that may last well into next spring…. The caribou are using the highway this year because ponds and lakes are still not frozen, and the road makes for a ready alternative route for the animals.” Anne Marie Owens, “15,000 caribou stop the traffic in Labrador,” National Post, November 17, 2003.]
• What might happen to barrenland caribou if summers are hotter?
  [Warmer weather can mean more insects. More insect harassment affects caribou’s ability to gain weight during the summer, which means fall hunters are affected.]
• What parasite might increasingly affect moose in the north if winters are warmer and shorter? Why would this matter?
  [Winter tick (Dermacentor albictus) is a serious pest of moose in northern Alberta and BC, where thousands of moose died in 1999 as a result of hair loss due to tick infestation. While winter ticks are relatively rare in the territories, a change in climate could lead to an increase in ticks.]
• How does thinning sea ice affect seal hunters and polar bear hunters?
  [The seals and polar bears don’t come as close to the communities because the ice is too thin to support them. The following quote is by Sachs Harbour resident and activist, Rosemary Kuptana. “What’s scary is the uncertainty,” she said. “We don’t know when to travel on the ice and our food sources are getting farther and farther away.” H. Josef Hiebert, “Inuits [sic]are sure world is getting warmer, no matter what scientists say,” Ottawa Citizen, Nov. 16 2000.]

Fishing

• What can happen to fish if permafrost melts?
  [The Up Here article explains that melting permafrost releases water from perched basins. Some lakes have completely drained, in one case releasing fish into the ocean. p. 61.]
• What can happen to fish when the when the water warms up a lot?
  [A number of things can happen. The amount of oxygen a water body can hold is directly related to the temperature of the water. Colder water can hold more oxygen than warm water. A fish’s metabolism, however, speeds up in warm water, and it therefore needs more oxygen. In other words, just when fish need the most oxygen, it is least available. Fish can die in what is called “summer kill” when temperatures rise and oxygen decreases. Warm water can also support the growth of algae blooms. When the algae die, the process of decomposition uses oxygen in the water.
  
  Perched basins are water-filled depressions above the water table that usually have no stream feeding into them. In small perched basins, if warm weather causes the water to evaporate rapidly, the lakes can become too shallow for fish. Very shallow lakes are also more likely to freeze to the bottom in winter, killing all the fish.]

Berry-picking

• What happens to berries when there is a very dry, hot summer?
  [Berry plants sometimes produce fewer berries, and the berries are not plump and juicy.]