Porcupine Caribou Herd, in Alaska oil debate spotlight, sustains population decline

By: Yereth Rosen

Outlets: Alaska Beacon

Published: January 21, 2026

Words: 1,314

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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The caribou herd that is at the center of the debate over oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has declined by about a third over the past eight years, according to state biologists.

The Porcupine Caribou Herd, which ranges in territory that spans the Alaska-Yukon border, is now estimated at 143,00 animals, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. That compares to the all-time high for the herd of …

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