Grey River caribou number in decline: aboriginal people

Aboriginal people on Newfoundland's south coast are worried that coyotes are causing a drastic drop in Grey River caribou numbers.

A recent provincial government study of the caribou population on the south coast indicates the herd is down anywhere from 40 to 60 per cent.

People living on the Conne River reserve have noticed a decline over the last five years.

Gregory Jeddore, who works for the Conne River Band Council, said Monday he's seen first-hand evidence that the caribou are being killed by coyotes and not by disease or poachers.

"Driving up the highway we seen a caribou and his hinds were all chewed up, and just as soon as we passed them, down the road there was two or three coyotes stalking it," he said.

The band council's director of wildlife, Ross Hinks, said he has witnessed coyotes killing caribou right outside his cabin.

And now it's rare to see caribou roaming anywhere in the area, Hinks said.

"They've walked along by my lawn so often in the past, but it's certainly not happening right now."