Name: woodland caribou

Scientific name: Rangifer tarandus caribou

Description: Both male and female woodland caribou have antlers. Female antlers are shorter and have fewer points. Bulls use their large racks to defend their herd of cows during rut (mating season). Mature bulls lose their antlers in December. Young bulls keep their antlers until late winter. Cows drop their antlers during or right after calving. In the fall the antlers shed their velvet and the caribou lose their winter coats. Caribou are rich, dark brown on their back and sides. The legs face and neck are creamy white. They have cupped hooves and large feet. This makes for easy travel in deep snow or spongy moss.

Weight: Females weigh about 250lbs. Males weigh about 400lbs.

Where they live: Woodland caribou live in west and central Alberta. They usually live in pine and black spruce forests in the winter. They live in alpine snow beds in the spring.

Reproduction: The breeding season is from early to mid-October. Young are born from early May to late June. There is usually one calf a year and young cows don't breed until they are about 2 1/2 years old.

Diet: It's diet consists mostly of ground and tree lichens. After the caribou have eaten in one forest it takes the forest 80-150 years to grow enough food for the caribou.

Why it is endangered: The woodland Caribou is endangered because of predetation, car accidents, hunting, and habitat change. Also because of disease, and loss of winter food.