Caribou, Barren Ground

Physical Features

Barren Ground Caribou are the largest member of the Reindeer family and they are characterized by their larger antlers and bigger size compared to other types of Caribou. They are the only ones in the deer family with antlers present in both the male and female. The antlers of the male spread out and have stems, while female ones are smaller and straighter. Both sexes have dark brown antlers that look smooth and velvety on the surface. The Barren Ground Caribou has a dark brown face with white around the nose. In summer the (shaggy fur) coat is light brown. In winter the coat turns a sandy-beige. There is white fur along the neck, underbelly, beneath the tail and above the hooves. Its double-layered tubular fur provides insulation and protection against the cold. Caribou weigh between 90-135kg/200-330 pounds with a body length of 120-215cm/4-7 feet to 213.36 cm / 7 feet. Barren Ground Caribou have long legs that end in large, broad hooves with sharp edges. This adaptation enables caribou to dig craters through ice and snow to feed themselves during the winter months. Their hooves also provide good support and traction when traveling over snow, ice or muskeg, allowing caribou to move quickly and escape predators. In winter, the fleshy pads between their hooves shrink and the hair between their toes forms tufts that cover the pads. Barren-Ground Caribou walk on the horny rims of their hooves and the hair protects the pads from contacting the frozen ground.

Habitat

Barren Ground Caribou are mainly found in forests in the Canadian territories, in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and western Greenland. They usually migrate to the tundra in spring.

Diet

Grasses, mosses, sedges, willows, and flowers from the staple food of Barren Ground Caribou. During winter they mainly feed on lichens, aided by their excellent sense of smell and wide hooves to find and dig out lichens beneath the snow. Barren Ground Caribou are able to recycle urea, a substance formed during protein digestion, which reduces the amount of water they need in winter, and helps them eliminate bodily toxins.

Meat

Caribou meat has the flavor and texture veal or antelope, tastes like venison and is healthy, containing three times the protein in beef. It is finely grained, extremely lean with very slight amounts of fat.

Behavior

Barren Ground Caribou live and move together in herds, migrating in search of food. Through the summer they eat to stock up fat for the winter, during which they live in forests on the edge of the Arctic. In spring they move to the tundra, where their calves are born. The herds are generally quiet apart from occasional snorts and grunts by the bulls. Barren Ground Caribou can swim across rivers and lakes while migrating. They have vacuums in the hide, which helps to them to keep afloat on water and also conserve body heat. In the winter they grow a long thick coat. During the mating season, which falls between October and November, male Barren Ground Caribou compete for females, using their antlers in fights. The male chases after a female, at times flaying at bushes with his antlers, and may mate with five to fifteen females. Seven to eight months after mating, the female gives birth to one or two calves. Calves weigh about 4.53 kg/10 pounds at birth, and can stand on their own 30 minutes after birth, ready to travel with the herd at a mere day old. They start grazing in a few weeks and may still continue to nurse for a month or so, and by fall season, most calves are self-reliant Arctic wolves are the main predators of Barren Ground Caribou who have a lifespan of 10-15 years.

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