Barren-ground Caribou

Behaviour

Caribou are generally silent animals except during the rut when bulls snort and grunt, and after calving when cows call to their calves in short grunts and the calves bleat to the cows.  Cows and calves can recognize each other’s voice even in a mass of other cows and calves.

Caribou have several other characteristic sounds that are not vocal.  The sharp clicking noise made by the movement of the tendons and bones just above the hooves can be heard most clearly on calm cold days as large groups of animals journey across the tundra. As well, the rattle and clash of antlers as bulls spar is commonly heard during the rut.  

Caribou walk at about 7 km/hr when migrating and can cover between 20 and 65 km a day. When startled, a caribou runs in a loose, even trot. The head is held high with the nose up and the tail erect. When galloping at top speed, most caribou can outrun wolves, their major predator.  However, if a caribou hesitates, stumbles, or takes a wrong turn, wolves can quickly overtake an animal.   

Caribou are excellent swimmers.  Although caribou normally select narrow stretches of water that are easy to cross, they can swim for long distances and have been observed crossing water bodies up to 10 km wide. Their hollow guard hairs help them float and their broad hooves propel them along at speeds of about 3 km/hr.