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 Caribou
Range
Barren Ground Caribou
(Rangifer tarandus)
Physical Description
Brown hair covers the main body of the caribou in the summer with
the eye ring, rump patch, underside of the tail, and inside of the
ears, feet, nose, and areas of the flanks being white. In the
winter the coat turns grayish to almost white in color and gets
thicker and longer than the summer coat. Both sexes grow antlers
standing as high as three feet or more. Fawns are brown and
unspotted. Mature caribou stand approximately four feet tall at
the shoulder. Caribou average eight feet in length.
Average Weight Range
Mature caribou range in weight from 130 to over 350 pounds.
Reproduction
Breeding runs from early to mid-October. Cows don’t breed until at
least 2.5 years of age. Calves are usually born mid-May to early
June. Once breeding is complete, the gestation period lasts
225-235 days. Like most of the deer species, the males (bulls)
will spar with each other. There are differing opinions as to why
these fights occur: some believe that the males fight for a harem
of females, and others believe that the males fight for space and
accept the females that are in their space. During these fights
the bulls will charge each other with their heads cocked downward.
They will run into each other horns first, rear up, and on their
hind legs and paw at each other with the front hooves. Injuries
during this time are rare; however, the bulls will occasionally
get their horns locked up, which can result in death for both
animals.
Caribou use vocalizations occasionally such as a grunting roar
during rut, an alarmed snort when spooked and a bawl.
In the spring the females will migrate towards areas known as
calving grounds to give birth in safety. According to studies the
number of predators on the calving grounds is less than the
caribou encounter in the winter range. Instincts to reach these
areas are so strong with the caribou that they are able to travel
through adverse conditions like deep snow and rivers filled with
icebergs. The young are born shortly after the females arrive. The
calving grounds are full of new plant growth high in nutrition for
both the mother (milk production) and the calf.
Food Usage/Selection
Caribou are herbivores and prefer mature or old growth coniferous
forests associated with bogs, lakes and rivers. Major food source
for the caribou are ground and tree lichens, grasses, sedges,
green leaves of deciduous shrubs, and mushrooms. When the snow
becomes too crusted to dig through, they will turn to eating
shrubs, grasses, willows, and arboreal lichens.
Range
Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and Russia are home to the largest
herds of caribou.
In Canada the caribou are found in northern and northwestern
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon
Territory, Baffin Islands, Southampton Islands, Queen Elizabeth
Islands and Newfoundland.
Habitat
Depending on the herd species, caribou range from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and from Greenland south through northern Canada.
Common Hunting Methods
Caribou may be taken by rifle, shotgun, black powder or bow and
arrow. Most caribou are hunted on foot while waiting for the
animal to pass by. Some of the best hunting takes place during the
migration periods. Hunters hide along migration routes and wait
for an opportunity to harvest a chosen animal.
Hunting Challenges/Values
Patience is the biggest challenge that will face hunters of any
experience level. To hunt caribou in either Alaska or Canada, you
are required by local hunting regulations to employ the services
of a guide or an outfitter. In addition to the tasty meat, the
caribou’s hide can be used for clothing and many hunters display
their mounted heads or antlers.
Interesting Tidbits
Both sexes grow antlers standing as high as three feet or more.
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