Ecology /  Wildlife /  Content Index Woodland Caribou Woodland Caribou With its dense stands of mature spruce forests, abundant supply of lichens and low-growing shrubs, and balanced blend of uplands, lowlands and wetlands are ideal environment for caribou habitat. Their characteristics are as follows: • Woodland caribou are members of the deer family. Other caribou subspecies around the world include barren-ground, Svalbard, European, Finnish forest reindeer, Greenland, and Peary. • The woodland caribou is short and stocky, with a flat muzzle and prominent antlers. Its summer coat is dark brown, with a white neck, chest, belly and rump. The white mane of the males becomes more pronounced during breeding season. The caribou's coat fades to grayish-white during the winter. • Woodland caribou are about 1.2 metres tall, and 1.8 metres in length. Males (bulls) weigh on average, 180 kilograms, females (cows) average 130 kilograms. In Newfoundland, where environmental conditions are optimal, males can grow to weigh 250 kilograms. • Caribou are the only members of the deer family in which both sexes grow antlers. Mature bulls shed their antlers after breeding season in early winter, while young bulls drop theirs in mid-winter. Cows retain their antlers during the winter, dropping them in the spring when calving is completed. The antler racks of both bulls and cows are large and intricate, but the bull's antlers are larger than a cow's, growing to a width of 1 - 1.2 metres. • Unlike barren-ground caribou that migrate vast distances in large herds, woodland caribou live in small bands and inhabit a limited territorial range. • The woodland caribou is an herbivore (plant-eater). Its diet consists of ground and tree lichens, shrubs and grasses, with 60% -70% of its calorie intake provided by lichens. • The woodland caribou is highly adapted to rugged terrain and harsh winter weather. Its keen sense of smell allows it to detect snow-covered lichens, and its digestive system contains microorganisms that enable it to process large quantities of the carbohydrate-rich plants. Its large, crescent-shaped hooves allow it to maintain balance and speed over snow and muskeg, to paddle quickly through rivers, streams and bogs, and to dig through deep snow to reach winter food. Short, fur-covered ears, a short tail, and a coat of hollow air minimize heat loss and provide excellent insulation in cold temperatures, and a slowed metabolism reduces wintertime energy requirements. • Woodland caribou have a low reproductive rate compared to other ungulates such as moose, deer and elk. Most cows give birth to only 1 calf per season. Calves weigh approximately 5 kilograms at birth, but double their weight within 10 days. • Woodland caribou can live up to 15 years, but their average lifespan is just under 5 years. River Otter Revelry Whether you set off on a deliberate otter quest, scanning banks for burrows, flattened vegetation and telltale scat, or simply cross its path during a shoreline paddle, you will find it hard to turn your gaze away from its captivating face and glistening, rich brown coat. Learn More... Optimal Osprey Hovering about 15 metres above the rushing water, then suddenly dropping straight down, its wings half spread, its sharp, curved claws stretched forward, the Osprey disappears beneath the surface with a resounding splash. Moments later, it reappears, quickly rising to the first available perch to tear its slippery piscine prey to pieces Learn More... River Otter Revelry Whether you set off on a deliberate otter quest, scanning banks for burrows, flattened vegetation and telltale scat, or simply cross its path during a shoreline paddle, you will find it hard to turn your gaze away from its captivating face and glistening, rich brown coat. Learn More... Optimal Osprey Hovering about 15 metres above the rushing water, then suddenly dropping straight down, its wings half spread, its sharp, curved claws stretched forward, the Osprey disappears beneath the surface with a resounding splash. Moments later, it reappears, quickly rising to the first available perch to tear its slippery piscine prey to pieces Learn More... Heritage, Wilderness, Towns and Parks Tourists visiting Canada's many towns, cities, parks and rivers have thousands of opportunities to attend museums, heritage sites and festivals. Learn More... A Multitude of Fishing Experiences Available Pike, trout, salmon, walleye, pickering, sturgeon, muskie - just to name a few of the fish that attract anglers to Canada's many creeks, streams, ponds, lakes, rivers and ocean coastlines. Learn More... A Land of Lakes and Rivers Canada is a land of lakes and rivers. Paddlers can plan short journeys into whitewater river canyons or long trips along remote waterways. Learn More... Get Out on the Trails Across Canada there are thousands of trails available throughout the year for ecotourists to access Canadian wilderness. Learn More...

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