Woodland caribou - Sierra Club BC
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Woodland caribou

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Woodland caribou

Rangifer tarandus caribou

Appearance

Woodland caribou bulls grow to 200 kilograms with antlers over one metre wide. Females weigh 130 kilograms with slightly smaller antlers. They are the only members of the deer family whose females grow antlers. They have brown hair with a white rump and throat. Their large hoofs help them walk on snow, and their extremely warm coats help them survive the winter cold. They also have a short tail, snout and ears to reduce body heat loss in winter.

Range & Habitat 

Woodland caribou are found in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and in central/northern B.C., with a pocket in the Central Interior’s Chilcotin. 

Reciprocal Relationships 

Woodland caribou are herbivores. Their diet consists of lichen in the winter and fresh green plants in the summer. They rely on large, old-growth forests full of lichen to survive the winter. In early fall, males fatten up before the mating or ‘rutting’ period, during which they rarely eat. They range in herds of 20 to 450 caribou, but females give birth away from the herd to be less obvious to predators.
 
These beings play an important role in the boreal ecosystem. They help balance the plant population and provide food to many other animals. Some of these predators include wolves, cougars, bears, and wolverines. When predators and scavengers are done feeding on the caribou carcass, what remains decomposes and releases important nutrients back into the ecosystem.
  
Caribou are vital for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis across the country. Caribou represent an important food source, but also provide clothing, tents, and other items. The act of hunting helps maintain community relations. Unfortunately, these beings are threatened by habitat destruction, logging and other disturbances caused by humans. Fortunately, conservation efforts led by First Nations such as the West Moberly First Nations and the Salteau First Nations have helped some caribou herds bounce back against these pressures.  

Status

COSEWIC: Threatened 
CDC: Blue 

MORE INFORMATION 

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca

Photo Credit

Jared Hobbs

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