Read more about Alaska's
CARIBOU:
Santa Claus has no shortage of reindeer in the North Pole. Alaska’s population of caribou (known as reindeer in Europe) is estimated to exceed 1,000,000. The world population is thought to be 5 million. Caribou are so numerous, in fact, that they nearly double Alaska’s human population of 600,000 people.
But for caribou, it’s all about the antlers. In males, the antlers can grow to several feet in length. And of all species in the deer family, only caribou grow antlers in both males and females (although the female’ tend to be much shorter). Males are without antlers from November to April, while females lose their trademark horns from May through June. An interesting observation: all Santa’s reindeer must, therefore, be female. In September, when the male’s antlers are full grown, fighting begins. To the winner goes breeding rights in the immediate area. The injured losers are often hunted by bears and wolves, adding more than just insult to injury.
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A caribou’s feet are made for walking. Their large, concave hooves are well suited for travel through the arctic tundra. In winter, the wide hooves act as snowshoes, allowing caribou to move swiftly through the most adverse conditions. Caribou travel to their calving areas, some more than 3,000 miles a year. That migration is greater than that of any other land animal. Caribou are known to have an excellent sense of direction. They are able to walk to and from calving areas, even through areas they have not previously visited. Caribou eat plants, leaves, flowers, mushrooms, lichens, mosses and blueberry. Caribou herd migrate when the food supply runs short.
The hunting of caribou has emerged in Alaska, contributing both to the economy and food supply. More than 20,000 caribou are killed each year. The law requires that hunted caribou be used for food. When threatened, caribou can run at speeds up to 50 mph. However, scientists have yet to calculate the airspeed of flying reindeer.
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