Porcupine Caribou Migration Summer: June - August Post-calving and Movement, Early and Mid Summer   A line of caribou crossing river credit Amy Gulick Caribou have reached the Coastal Plain Unlike many animals that migrate during two main periods of the year, spring and fall, the Porcupine caribou’s annual migration is divided into 8 major periods with many smaller movements in between. We will make this simpler to fit our 4 major seasons- Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. June 1 -10: Weather permitting, the parturient (pregnant or having just given birth) cows have made their way to the coastal plain. Here there is little to no snow cover, the cottongrass in full flower and arctic willow leaves are in bud. June 11-30: All caribou have now found their way to the coastal plains to find nutritious food in a safe environment. Cottongrass is past flowering but willow leaves have emerged. Other plant life(biomass for nutrition) is increasing. July 1-15: Caribou finding biomass at its peak during this time. Mosquitoes also at their peak. The herd finds relief with Arctic winds that blow across the plain to scatter mosquito masses. July 16-August 7: Food (biomass) extremely abundant. Mosquitoes tapering off. However, the parasitic Oestrid flies are peaking. Follow the Porcupine caribou migration this year: The Porcupine Caribou Satellite Collar Project Copyright 1996-2004 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form