Caribou are very susceptible to disturbance in their habitat, and industrial operations may further fragment remaining forested areas surrounding the burnt area. A pause in industrial activity through the next four important caribou activity cycles—fall breeding, winter foraging, spring migration, and summer calving—allows time to determine the impacts the fire will have on the NAOSAP herd. A recovery plan for the herd's future should be based on one year's study.

"The bottom line is there is no protected habitat and now there's 55,000 hectares of significant habitat burned," stated Manitoba Wildlands Director, Gaile Whelan-Enns.

Caribou were listed as threatened under Canada's Species At Risk Act in 2003, and under Manitoba's Endangered Species Act in 2006. The NAOSAP herd has been identified as one of the most at risk herds in the province.

"If we find that the province isn't looking after caribou as well as they should be, then there are legal obligations under the Canadian Species At Risk Act which should be triggered," added Wilderness Committee Campaign Director, Eric Reder.

Both the provincial Liberals and the Greens expressed support for the year-long pause. No one from Manitoba Conservation was available for comment August 20, 2010