caribous

Caribou, also known as reindeer in Eurasia, are large deer species native to Arctic and subarctic regions of North America and Eurasia. They are well-adapted to cold climates, possessing thick fur and large, splayed hooves that help them walk on snow and soft ground. Both male and female caribou grow antlers, a characteristic unique among deer species. These antlers are shed and regrown annually.

Caribou are herbivores, with their diet consisting primarily of lichens, mosses, grasses, and sedges. During the winter, lichens form a significant portion of their food intake, dug out from beneath the snow. They live in herds, which can range in size from a few individuals to thousands, and undertake long-distance migrations between their summer and winter feeding grounds. These migrations are among the longest of any land mammal.

The reproductive cycle of caribou typically involves mating in the autumn. Females give birth to one or two calves in the spring. Calves are precocial, able to stand and walk shortly after birth, and can nurse within hours. Caribou play a vital role in their ecosystems, influencing vegetation through their grazing and serving as prey for predators like wolves and bears. They are also important to indigenous cultures in the Arctic for sustenance and materials. Several subspecies exist, with varying population sizes and distributions. Conservation efforts are in place for some populations facing threats from habitat loss and climate change.