Fort Simpson (Oct 27/06) - Members from almost every NWT community participated in the third biannual Dehcho Regional Wildlife Workshop in Fort Simpson Oct. 17 and 18.

The event was co-sponsored by the territorial department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Dehcho First Nations.

Delegates and members of the public got a chance to participate in round-table discussions and hear presentations on research going on in the region.

For Jean Marie River resident Ernest Hardisty, the most important issue was the caribou herds.

"Most of the people here are concerned about caribou. I haven't seen any for the last four years," said Hardisty.

At the discussion, community members talked about trying to do as little harm to animals as possible when collars are put on caribou.

"The people around here care about wildlife, and I know I do," said Bob Norwegian from Fort Simpson.

Another important issue for people in the region is the moose population, which seems healthy in Hardisty's opinion.

Hardisty said talking to members of the community is a good way for biologists and researchers to get advice and learn.

And that's why this workshop was created, said Nic Larter, the regional biologist for the Deh Cho.

"We want to make sure everybody knows what's going on," said Larter.

He said people in the communities were very supportive of the research going on.

One of the more surprising presentations was about baby birds being killed by squirrels, said Larter.

Douglas Tate, a conservation biologist for the Nahanni National Park Reserve, showcased research going on in the park focusing on wildlife like bats, grizzly bears, bull trout, Dall's sheep, and woodland caribou. "People were interested in the things that were going on," said Tate.