Food Habits of Hand-Reared Caribou Rangifer tarandus L. in Newfoundland

Cratering behaviour and faecal C:N ratio in relation to seasonal snowpack characteristics in a High-Arctic ungulate

“…This corresponds well with previous values reported for Svalbard reindeer (Hansen et al 2010) as well as caribou in Alaska (e.g., Collins & Smith 1991) and on Coats Island, Canada (Adamczewski et al 1988). Although Pruitt (1959) and LaPerriere & Lent (1977) suggested that caribou crater in snow with thickness up to around 50-60 cm, and Johnson et al (2000) found craters up to 1 m deep, Bergerud & Nolan (1970) Table 2). In ( craters in our study were well within these limits.…”

“…In spite of little icing during the study winter, reindeer avoided cratering in the few sites where vegetation was completely covered by ground ice (see also Hansen et al 2010). This supports the hypothesis that olfactory senses are important when locating food under the snowpack (e.g., Bergerud & Nolan 1970;Bergerud 1974). Snow depth in craters rarely exceeded 30 cm (Fig.…”

“…This sedentary behaviour reduces their energy demands for locomotion, which can be substantial in other caribou and reindeer populations travelling longer distances (Fancy & White 1987). Like other reindeer and caribou (Tushinskii 1949, in Bergerud & Nolan 1970Bergerud 1974;LaPerriere & Lent 1977), the Svalbard reindeer show a remarkable ability to detect ice-free microhabitat under the snowpack, which has been attributed to their olfactory senses (Hansen et al 2010). The concave-shaped hooves have sharp foreedges, with which they can break through ice layers and scrape away the snow while feeding (Skogland 1978).…”

Selection of browse twigs by moose

“…Bergerud & Nolan (1970) concluded that young pen-reared caribou ate the same plants as wild caribou.…”

Hand-rearing and care of a group of roe-deer

“…The importance of this problem is shown by the extremely large number of publications in this field which appear every year. Studies on behaviour are usually carried out by means of two methods: (1) by observations of wild animals living in freedom and (2) making use of tame animals. The method of observations of wild animals is widely used, particularly in areas with good visibility (steppes, savannah, tundra, hill slopes), in which large herds live or in cases in which the animals are not timid.…”