| Reindeer are domesticated caribou in North America | | | | grounds. These grounds contain lichen and scrub, |
| and are mainly bred for meat production. Although | | | | which are food for caribou in winter.The most highly |
| there are seven subspecies of caribou, Alaska only | | | | migratory land animals are caribou; herds can have up |
| has the Barren ground subspecies. Wild caribou are | | | | to 10,000 animals, which travel more than 50 miles |
| called reindeer in Europe; they are the same species | | | | each day during migration. Caribou travel every year |
| as normal caribou; however, there are some | | | | during summer and winter and they generally search |
| differences between the two of them. Reindeer or | | | | for calving grounds in spring. Different herds live |
| caribou have heavier bodies and shorter legs due to | | | | separately in the summer on calving grounds and |
| different breeding methods; this helps produce the | | | | they join up to travel to the winter grounds. When |
| most meat. Wild caribous' legs are longer with smaller | | | | they reach winter grounds, they scatter and |
| bodies, which provide for a more efficient | | | | reconnect when they go back to the calving |
| migration.Caribou are a species of deer and both | | | | ground.Female's, which are pregnant, give birth a few |
| males and females have antlers; males weigh 400 | | | | days after each another while on the calving grounds. |
| pounds and females weigh 200 pounds. Caribou can | | | | This increases the number of calves in a herd; once |
| live to 15 years old in their habitat and to 20 years | | | | born, they must quickly move to avoid wolves, |
| old in captivity. They have a thick coat during the | | | | golden eagles and bears. They can stand on their |
| winter and it sheds in the spring, but still shields them | | | | feet an hour after they are born and can outrun a |
| from water. Fur that repels water is useful when | | | | human after a day. Because many calves are born |
| herds travel through large rivers. Their hooves are | | | | from different herds, each one has a better chance |
| concave and their edges harden when winter arrives | | | | of surviving predator attacks. A predator can only |
| which help them walk on icy surfaces. They soften | | | | take a few calves at a time while hunting. Sometimes |
| during the summer for walking on spongy tundra. | | | | a confusion effect occurs; this happens when a |
| There is a tendon in a caribou's ankle, which alters | | | | predator has trouble focusing on one animal within a |
| the hooves when walking. This causes the hooves to | | | | herd.During the rut or breeding season, males |
| gain a larger surface area while on spongy | | | | compete to determine breeding rights. They defend |
| tundra.Alaska has more than 30 distinct herds with an | | | | their space from other males aggressively and begin |
| estimated 1,000,000 caribou scattered throughout | | | | breeding. They use a lot of energy and do not eat |
| the state. Many live in tundra areas and mountain | | | | much during this time, so they generally are in poor |
| habitats near the forest where they migrate.Caribou | | | | condition when the breeding season ends. Older |
| often migrate to find food and herds travel long | | | | males are at risk if they are in this condition when |
| distances quite often to find new food sources. | | | | predators are around.The caribou population in Alaska |
| Smaller herds do the opposite and only travel short | | | | is managed and stable; the state controls hunting and |
| distances or stay in the same area. During the | | | | subsistence use. Over hunting, diseases and |
| summer, caribou eat many kinds of herbaceous | | | | predators cause the caribou population to decrease. |
| plants but when winter arrives, they travel to winter | | | | |