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Across the Tundra
As the snow melts caribou head north to the Arctic
In spring, as the snow starts to melt, the pregnant caribou cows lead the long march north. They’re in a hurry to give birth. After two months, they reach the Arctic coast of Alaska, where they find plentiful lichens, few predators and a cool breeze that keeps insects at bay.
The calves are born in early June. By July, the insects are worse and food is running low. Tens of thousands of caribou spread out across the landscape to find food and escape the biting bugs. As the first snows start to fall, they gather into huge herds and start heading south – followed by bears, wolves and other hungry predators.
By November, the caribou reach the forests where they spend winter. Among the trees the snow is not so heavy – and it stays soft, so they can dig down to feed on lichens.
The temperature can fall as low as -50°C. But the caribou are tough, and special hollow insulating hairs on their coats help them stay warm enough to survive. They spend winter feeding and gaining weight, ready for the spring journey back north.
Last modified: 11 January 2005