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1. Only caribou bulls (males) have antlers. False
Caribou are the only members of the deer family whose females as well as males grow antlers.
2. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are one of the mountain ranges found within the Porcupine Caribou migration
range. False
Three of the major ranges within the migration range are:
- Richardson Mountains
- Ogilvie Mountains
-
Chandalar MountainsLichen, caribou winter food
Photo courtesy USGS
3. The caribou's favorite winter foods are nuts and berries. False
Caribou search out and eat a plant called lichen that grows under the snow in their winter range.
4. Native Gwitch'in people have always used plastic beads, scrapers and spoons. False
Traditionally the caribou taken in the hunt were almost completely utilized. Antlers were used in making many things
including tools like scrapers and spoons. Porcupine quills were once dyed and used before traders brought plastic
and glass beads.
5. In April, the U. S. Senate voted against drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
True
On April 18, the U.S. Senate voted 54 to 46 to reject an amendment to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
6. Many native (aboriginal) people live off the land in the Arctic. True
As their tradition, many people in the Arctic continue to harvest their food off the land. Hunting, trapping and
gathering continue to contribute necessary food and income for native people. In addition, the eco-tourism business
has grown as more people are interested in visiting and experiencing the beauty of the northern wilderness.
Explain your Answer
1. Why are the individual hairs in the caribou's fur hollow? (This is an adaptation.)
Caribou fur has hollow strands to help insulate them from the cold and keep them boyant while swimming across rivers.
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The Arctic Refuge is recognized as one of the finest examples of wilderness left on the planet. It is a place where wild has not been taken out of the wilderness. The Refuge is managed to maintain its natural condition, diversity of wildlife and other special values. Management focuses on research, education and monitoring. The are no manmade roads, trails, parking lots or visitor centers in the Refuge.
3. Old Crow, Yukon Territory, a small town of 300 aboriginal people is located at the confluence of the Crow
and the Porcupine Rivers. If you wanted to visit, how would you have to get there? (Think summer and winter.)
Visiting Old Crow requires a fly in, or in winter it can be reached by snow machine or dog sled.
4. Trudy was not an old caribou when she died this spring. What are the best guesses about how she died?
It is thought that Trudy was killed by a predator. The most likely predator would be a wolf.
5. Can you walk across the Beaufort Sea in the winter? Why?
Because of the extremely cold temperatures of the Beaufort Sea in the winter months the sea water turns to ice.
The ice thickens to the point that polar bears are often seen hunting seals from large ice floes.
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The wind off the Beaufort sea keeps the mosquito and fly population lower on the coastal plain than inland. Animals, including newborn calves have been know to be trampled by caribou gone crazy from too many insects attacking them. In addition, the food plants grow abundantly on the coastal plain during the summer months. Caribou, including lactating cows, gain back the weight they lost during the migration and bulk up for fall in this area rich in plant life
7. Daylength has changed significantly in the Arctic since February. Calculate how much daylight there was on Feb. 4. How many more hours of light do they have May 20?
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Date |
Sunrise |
Sunset |
Hours of |
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02/04/02 |
10:18 |
16:50 |
6hr 32min |
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05/20/02 |
2:47 |
23:51 |
21hr 4min |
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