History, Habitat and Facts About Caribou
Caribou are not native to North America. They've migrated here after being hunted down in their native habitat, the sub-arctic tundra. Let's explore what you ought to know about caribou, including where they live, their habits, and more!
The Caribou is a large ungulate mammal found in northern Canada and Alaska of the Arctic Circle. Their population has shrunk over the years due to hunting for their meat and fur by humans since they were introduced from Siberia during colonial times.
Today there are only 107,000 left in the wild because of hunting from hunters who think nothing of killing these animals for sport or food when they could be culled humanely instead. The Caribous migrate north every year to escape the harsh winters, but their numbers have dwindled in recent years because the traditional migration routes have been disrupted by development.
Caribou can weigh up to 400 lbs. and males are generally larger than females. They have large antlers which they shed every year and grow back again. Caribou are preyed on by wolves, bears, and mountain lions and they can be hunted by humans.
Their habitats are found in the arctic tundra, boreal forests, or taiga which is often flat land or rolling hills with shrubs, lichens, sedges, mosses, and low-lying scrub brush. They love water since it's hard to find in these areas of freezing cold winters and snowstorms. Caribou are herbivores, meaning they only eat vegetation.
They eat twigs, berries, grasses, sedges, mosses, and lichens in the summertime when the weather is warmer or during winter when food is scarce by pawing through snow to get to them. Females will give birth in open fields with short grass and nurse their young there until they are able to follow the herd.
Caribou have an interesting way of communicating with each other. They use their antlers to make scratching sounds in the ground, which can be heard a mile away! They also snort, grunt, and bark to communicate with each other. The Caribou is a beautiful animal and is currently listed as "Near Threatened" on the IUCN Red List.
If you're ever lucky enough to see one in the wild, take a moment to appreciate their graceful beauty!
My Personal Invitation To You
I personally invite you to begin your journey as a fine art collector. I will work with you every step of the way from the selection of a style and size of one of my Caribou wildlife photographs to the tracking and delivery of your print.
The end result will be photographic artwork that will add beauty to your home or office and become a cherished possession.
If you have any questions about the process, see my Q and A page or drop me a note on my Contact page.
Fine Art Print and Wall Art Options
My Caribou wildlife photographs are offered in the following styles:
- Lumachrome® HD Trulife® Acrylic Prints
- Exhibit Mounted Metal Prints
- Fuji Crystal Archive Paper Prints
Please see my Print Options page for complete details on these museum quality prints. For illustrations in different rooms, please see my How To Choose page.
Need something different? Please contact me with the details of your request.
