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C A R I B O U Rangifer tarandus       © 1996 Diane Bundy |
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C A R I B O U (Rangifer tarandus) GENUS NAME: Rangifer SPECIES NAME: tarandus DIET: lichen, mushrooms, grasses, sedges, birch & willow twigs, fruit, other green plants |
Caribou are members of the deer family. They live throughout most of Alaska and Canada. Caribou are migratory, and often travel in large herds. They are good swimmers. On land, they can run up to almost 50 mph (80 km/h). They mate in the fall and females produce 1-2 calves, between mid-May and early July. The major predators of caribou are humans and wolves, but young caribou are also in danger from grizzly bears, wolverines, lynx, and golden eagles. Antlers -- Both male (bull) and female (cow) caribou have antlers (also called a rack). Bulls' racks can be as wide as 5 feet (1.5 meters); cows' racks are smaller. Bulls shed their antlers in the late fall, but females keep their antlers until late spring. Both rodents and caribou gnaw on fallen antlers as a source of calcium. Similar species include Elk (they don't have the white-colored throat that Caribou have) and Deer (which are smaller than caribou). READ MORE ABOUT ANIMALS |
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