SASKATOON A University of Saskatchewan (U of S) professor is researching the threats that spruce budworms, a type of moth, has on woodland caribou in Canada. Associate biology professor Philip McLoughlin says the project started by looking at complex populations involving spruce budworms which are well known in eastern parts of the country. According to the paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), spruce budworm outbreaks happen every 30 years and have similar effects on disruptions such as logging and forest fires. The results of the moths killing forests leads to a “flush of vegetation of benefit to moose.” McLoughlin says more moose means more wolves which in turn, will threaten caribou.