The Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) has increased dramatically in size over the last forty years, from approximately 75,000 animals in 1970 to 490,000 in 2003, and is now estimated at approximately 348,000 (Dau 2005, Joly et al. 2006). With the increase in population size the herd has increased the regional extent of its wintering grounds. The expansion in spatial extent of the wintering range and surge in population numbers has led to concern that the herd may be negatively impacting the vegetation (Joly et al. 2006). Additionally, this habitat experiences occasional tundra fires that have dramatic impacts on the vegetation. The vegetation communities that tend to be most impacted by fires are also those that caribou are particularly reliant on. The BLM and collaborators are therefore striving to understand the pace and trajectory of vegetation community assembly following disturbance by fire and by caribou grazing.