Buried Bounty: Caribou Survival Depends on Lichen and Snow03/27/2026 A study by researchers at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry indicates that if lichen continues to decline across the Arctic, caribou populations could struggle to survive the winter.imageA large herd of caribou is scattered across a snowy, gently sloping landscape. The animals are grazing and walking in different directions against a backdrop of open, snow‑covered terrain.Photo courtesy of Kyle Joly, National Park Service