Caribou Migration Update: March 12, 2003
Comparing Caribou Range This week we are offering you the current map of Porcupine caribou locations plus a look at their winter locations almost exactly a year ago. It is interesting to study and compare the two maps. Can you see which of our caribou have gone to the same location? Many have decided to travel to different wintering grounds. Do you think there are any caribou near Arctic Village this year?
Capture and Collar: All in a Day’s Work
Tracking the Porcupine caribou over the last 20 years has enabled researchers to study the herd in ways never thought possible. Learn more about collars and how caribou are captured:
Two Humans Join Caribou Migration for 7 Months: “Being” Caribou Have you ever really wondered what it might be like to live in the wilderness like a caribou? This is one of the motivating factors that are leading 2 Canadian adventurers to follow the Porcupine caribou migration this year. Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison will be leaving on skis in April to try and migrate with the herd as they move from winter range to calving grounds and back to winter range over the course of 6-7 months.
Karsten’s main motivation to “be” caribou is to immerse himself in the rhythms of an animal’s life for month after month without the disruptions of modern civilization. “Some people have said we’re likely to see things no person has ever seen before,” says Heuer of the upcoming
trip. “For me, that’s reason enough to put our lives on hold
for the next 7 months.”
The caribou have their winter supply of lichens to supply them with the carbohydrates they need to make it through the long winter migration. What would people eat on such a journey? With no stores to buy food, and the responsibility of carrying all that you will need, how would you plan the food for a 7-month migration? Read on to find out how Karsten and Leanne plan for this adventure. Then answer this!
(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.) How would you pack for the trip? Starting with their feet and moving up to the top of their heads Karsten and Leanne describe the clothing, equipment and technology they will pack in their backpacks. Stay tuned for more! Winter’s Dining Selections: Lichens
Did you know that caribou have a special kind of 4-chambered stomach so they can eat lichens? Or that lichens are very sensitive to pollution in the air? Learn more about this unusual food supply and how the caribou has adapted to live off it: Arctic Trekking with Scott Hed: Part 2 On the River
This week Scott describes his trip up the Kongakut River to the Arctic Ocean. Read his notes, view the pictures and find out why he is so dedicated to protecting ANWR from oil development. Oil Drilling in the US Arctic Region: Informed Decision Making
The issue is big. Which side do you support? Are you pro or con: proponent or opponent? How do you form an opinion? Current US energy legislation protects the caribou calving area (1002 Area) from any drilling, but President Bush wants to amend that legislation. The current US administration proposes to expand North Slope oil and gas drilling operations into the heart of the calving area insisting that drilling for domestic oil and gas reserves would reduce reliance on foreign oil. Take some time in your classrooms to discuss this important issue. Collect articles from newspapers and magazines. Browse the internet for information. Interview your parents and grandparents, your teachers and elected officials. Learn how to make an informed decision. Collect and review information including this fact sheet: Then with your classmates, look at the issue critically using this cognitive organizing tool called a PMI chart: After this exercise try this challenge:
(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.) Name the Caribou, CQ #6: Contest Closes March 24 As you are reading this the capture and recollar team is out in the field patrolling for Cupid, Lupine and Donner who will be fitted with new satellite collars. They are also selecting 3 cows for new collars. Journey North has the honor of naming 2 of these. Last Update’s challenge to name the new caribou has brought a very creative collection of caribou names rolling in. As we await the news (and pictures, we hope) of the new caribou, nominations can still be submitted to Journey North until March 24. Remember, judges will chose names that meet the following criteria:
With each name submitted, be sure to include your name, school and grade level. (To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.) Costly Collars: Discussion of Challenge Question #5 The news last update included details about the cost of purchasing satellite collars. Students everywhere proved multiplication skills and submitted answers like this one from students Alex S., Alex F., Kristen, and Derrick from Grade 7A at Iselin Middle School, “We believe the 6 collars will cost $16,284.00. We got the price of one collar, $2714.00, and multiplied it by 6.” Thanks also to Jameel, Michael, Lashawn, Joel, Danny, Brian, Staffi, Frank, Ashley, and Mike at Iselin Middle School/grade 7A, and Anthony and Ryan from Mrs. Erdmann's class at South O'Brien Middle School, and from Rachael. Cupid Cutting Her Course: How Far Did She Go? Challenge Question #7 asked, “How far did Cupid travel between 01/26/03 and 02/09/03? How did you calculate the distance?” Many of you took this challenge. Rachael gave us a great description of her steps and she calculated correctly! Cupid traveled 39 miles. Here is what Rachael wrote: “The distance between 65:22:00N 138:42:00E and 65:55:00N 138:27:00E, as the crow flies = 39 miles (62 km) (34 nautical miles). I calculated this problem by using the steps that were on the web site. I changed the Degrees Decimal into Degrees Minutes. Then I plugged those numbers into the website that was offered to calculate the distance. Cupid traveled 39 miles. Rachel” “We believe Cupid has traveled 38 miles. We hope we're right,” wrote Corey Corson, Ben Hollabaugh, Aaron Knight, and Ashley Ramey of Pymatuning Valley Middle School in Andover, Ohio. How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions:
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-caribou@learner.org Copyright 2003 Journey North. All Rights
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