4 caribou killed by trucks on N.W.T. ice road

N.W.T. wildlife officers are investigating two separate collisions that killed four caribou last week on the winter road to the territory's diamond mines.

Ron Near, director of winter road operations for the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road Joint Venture, says the first incident killed two caribou. It happened last Thursday, the first day the road opened for operation this season. 

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Drivers said two caribou were crossing the road when they suddenly turned around, running into a large truck.

The second incident happened the next day, on the spur road to De Beers' Gahcho Kue project. 

"In the incident that happened on the Gahcho Kue road, the pick-up truck was actually parked," Near said. "The caribou — something spooked them. They just ran into the front of the truck."

Wolves came and took the carcasses. 

Near says he's now working with the Department of Environment to create better guidelines for drivers when they encounter wildlife. He says the last time any caribou were killed on the winter road was in 1999.