Caribou

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Caribou fact # 3
Many animals prey on the Caribou. Depending on habitat, the Caribou can for instance be attacked by bears, wolves, wolverines and lynxes. Ravens sometimes attach caribou calves and eat their eyes. Avalanches are also a problem for the Caribou in some parts of its range. The Caribou can naturally also become infected with parasites and develop various forms of diseases. We know that mosquitoes, nose bot flies, warble flies, roundworms and tapeworms infest the Caribou. Examples of common Caribou diseases are foot rot, brucellosis and keratitis. Humans are also a treat to the Caribou and have hunted the animal since the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. In Europe, most caribous have today been domesticated or at least semi-domesticated.

Caribou facts # 4
In Europe, most caribous have are domesticated or at least semi-domesticated. The last wild Caribou herds in Europe can be found in Norway, chiefly in the mountainous regions of Dovre, Forrelhogna, Hardagnervidda and Rondane. In several other locations, e.g. Filefjell, you can find Caribou that hails from once domesticated herds that are now considered wild.

Caribou fact # 5
There exists several different recognized Caribou subspecies. Four are found in North America, three inhabit the Eurasian continent (including its remote islands), and one has become extinct.  

North American Caribou subspecies:
Rangifer tarandus caribou is commonly known as Forest caribou or Woodland caribou. The population used to inhabit a large region of boreal forest, and the southernmost populations could be found in New England and Washington. Today, their habitat is much smaller and they are considered threatened in many parts of the North American continent. The migratory woodland caribou in Labrador and Quebec does however still form large and healthy populations. 

Rangifer tarandus granti is found in Alaska, and in the Yukon and Northwest territories of Canada. It is called Grant's Caribou after conversationalist Madison Grant.

Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus lives in the Nunavut and Northwest territories of Canada, and like the name suggests it can also be found in Greenland. The common name for this subspecies is Barren-ground Caribou.

Rangifer tarandus pearyi was named after American explorer Robert Peary and is commonly referred to as Peary Caribou. This Caribou subspecies live in the northern islands of the Nunavut and Northwest territories of Canada.

 
European Caribou subspecies:
Rangifer tarandus fennicus is found wild in only two places in Europe; both located on the Fennoscandia peninsula. This Caribou subspecies is the therefore known as Finnish Forest Reindeer, but it can be found in Russia too. One habitat is found in central south Finland, while the other habitat is found in the Finnish/Russian Karelia region. The Caribou population centered around Karelia stretches quite far into Russia, but we still do not know if there exists separated Rangifer tarandus fennicus populations in more eastern part of the Russian territory as well.

Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus live on the Norweigan Svalbard islands. Svalbard is an archipelago in the Artic Ocean located roughly midway between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole. This Caribou subspecies is consequently called Svalbard Reindeer. 

Rangifer tarandus tarandus is found in the vast Arctic tundra that stretches over the northern parts of the Eurasian continent. This subspecies is often simply referred to as Wild reindeer, but it is also known as Mountain reindeer. 

Extinct Caribou subspecies:
Rangifer tarandus eogroenlandicus was extinct from its native habitat in eastern Greenland at some point around the year 1900. It was known as Arctic reindeer.

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Caribou facts