Caribou

(Rangifer tarandus)

Caribou are wild reindeer similar to the wild and domesticated reindeer of Eurasia. They have large, concave hooves that splay widely to support the animal in snow or muskeg, and are efficient scoops to paw through snow sometimes a meter deep to uncover lichens. The hoof print usually shows the dewclaws, which provide extra support on soft surfaces.

They are primarily grazers through spring and early fall but, as they live in areas with long, cold winters, winter food is extremely important for survival. Lichens, both tree (arboreal) and ground (terrestrial), are of great importance to their diets. As lichens are very slow-growing, the best sources are in old lodgepole pine and black spruce forests. In winter they will choose wind-swept alpine areas where it is easy to get at terrestrial lichens or move to mature forests where snow depth allows them to reach arboreal lichens.

Caribou are the only ungulate of which both the male and female commonly carry antlers. Caribou bull antlers differ from other deer in that one or two flattened, heavy tines called "shovels" extend out over the forehead. The main stem of the antler extends back, up and out to the side and the tips of the antlers are branched. Caribou antlers are flatter and wider than those of the mule and white-tailed deer. Cow caribou have smaller antlers than the bulls and some may be antlerless.

The animal most closely resembling the caribou is the elk, but even at a distance the caribou's distinctive brow tine, large feet, light mane and habit of holding its head low when moving are unmistakable features.

They do not form large herds in the forested areas of their distribution, but they are sociable and are often in small groups. In areas where their habitat is more open herds can consist of several hundred animals during the rut; however, it is not uncommon to encounter caribou of either sex traveling alone. The rut is much shorter for caribou than other deer and occurs in mid-October. Gestation is 7 to 8 months and a single calf is born in late May or early June.

Wolves are the main predator of caribou. In the north, before logging and mining provided new growth and access for moose, caribou were relatively separated from wolves. But with the movement of moose into overlapping habitats and increased access from roads, the wolves followed and predation on caribou increased. A similar situation was created in the south with cougars following the expansion of elk and deer into caribou habitat. Snowmobiles can also force them to leave critical winter habitat leading to higher death rates.

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