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Caribou Although
they are called by different names in North America, wild caribou
and domestic reindeer are considered to be a single species
throughout the world. They are rather large members of the deer
family. Caribou
stand about 1.5m at the shoulder and weigh more than 227kg. They
live in tundra and northern forest regions of both Eurasia and North
America, on Greenland and on large northern islands and much of
western Alaska. Caribou are social animals, living in herds.
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Spring
finds the herd feeding on new vegetation; grasses, flowering plants,
and the leaves of willows. In midsummer, annoying mosquitoes and
flies can drive the animals to windy coastal areas or old snow
patches for relief. In late August or early September the herd
begins to drift toward its winter range, where they feed on algae
and fungus, their most important winter food. |
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