Good Morning! Today after work we leave Fort Union. I no longer have butterflies, some type of bird is flying around my stomach. So to get my mind off of the birds I thought I would give you 20 facts about Caribou. Another animal I will be working with at Katmai.
1. Both male and females have antlers.
2. They are capable of sleeping in water.
3. Flies are the reason they move constantly as the flies lay thier eggs on their backs.
4. They eat lichen, another reason why they move from place to place as it takes years for lichen to grow.
5. The antlers can grow to four feet in width.
6. A calf can run 90 minutes after birth.
7. They have unique hairs that trap air inside to provide insulation and keep them buoyant in the water.
8. Caribou can migrate 3,000 miles a year.
9. They can run up to 50 miles an hour.
10. They weigh between 260-700 pounds.
11. Their life span is between 10 - 15 years.
12. From ground to shoulder they average 34 - 55 inches.
13. They are have a sturdy body and short legs.
14. Caribou's leg tendons make a cracking sound when they move.
15. Females have just one calf a year usually in May and June.
16. The calf will be weaned from mom in a month after birth.
17. Caribou can lower their metabolic rate and go into semi hibernation when conditions are harsh.
18. They will use their hooves or antlers to shovel snow to get to the food underneath.
19. They often follow the same migration pattern year after year.
20. Caribou numbers have been declining though no major reason has been found there are a number of theories why.
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