Caribou poo 'important baseline' for DNA research

Some hunters in theNorthwest Territoriesare being encouraged to bring home more than just caribou meat when they go on their spring hunts.

It's something most peoplelike Jean Polfus want to avoid: caribouscat or poop.

"Peoplecall me 'The Poop Lady' Although 'Caribou Poop Lady' is a little bit nicer," she said.

Polfus is a student and a researcher, whofunnels gum-ball-size caribou droppings into a Ziplock bag because they contain valuable information about the animals' genetic makeup.

"We'll just take a Q-Tipand swab the outside of the pellet once it's warmed up and we will collect the DNA from that,"Polfussaid.

Eachbag someone brings back from a hunting trip earns him or her a $25 gas card.

Woodland Caribou populations are threatened in the Northwest Territories, so the scat samples could help researchersfigure out how to save the herds.

Polfus hopes the samples reveal new details about the Woodland Caribou, specifically ifthe herds in the Sahtu, a region that runs along the Mackenzie Mountainsand includes five communities,have mating caribou that would traditionally grazeelsewhere.

"The genetic information as well as the information that people have can be used as important baseline information that can be monitored over time. Especially with different industrial developments that are happening in theSahtu," she said.

That's information Polfus and the hunters can't wait to dig up.