A recent sighting of a male caribou near Medicine Lake  has biologists hopeful the tiny Maligne caribou herd could grow this spring.

At about 6 p.m. on May 2, taxi driver P.J. Leroux was heading to Maligne Lake looking for wildlife. Halfway between Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake, he saw a creature standing in the middle of the road. As he approached, he realized it was a caribou and quickly took out his camera.

Almost directly in front of a caribou crossing sign, the caribou wandered into the woods. He appeared to be alone, however caribou are difficult to spot in the forest.

Leroux was able to snap a dozen pictures, which were used to identify the animal as a male.

Leroux said he’s been looking for caribou for eight years, but this is the first time he’s seen one on Maligne Lake Road.

The Maligne herd is estimated to have only four caribou left – all female. But the presence of a male caribou in the area at least raises the possibility of calves in the spring.

Jasper National Park biologist Mark Bradley said the find was extremely exciting.

“We think the sighting of a bull caribou in the Maligne is significant, because the last two aerial surveys (March and October) failed to turn up any males. Of course, we were hopeful that there was at least one male around that we had missed, but we had no evidence. Now we do,” Bradley said. 

The mountain parks have added funding for caribou, which are listed as a species at risk. The Cavell Road had an area closure for much of the winter to protect the Tonquin herd from predation, however no such action took place to protect the Maligne herd.

Still, Bradley said there is hope for the herd.

“We look forward to working with people to save caribou, and this a hopeful sign,” he said.