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Caribou

"Caribou" is another name for "Reindeer". It was given by the Americans. They are always moving, seeking new lands, escaping weather and protecting themsleves from danger. All Caribou have antlers. They are sharp on the tips so they are good for weapons. When the antlers grow, they have soft furry skin on them. When they are fully grown, that fur rubs off. The male's antlers stay on their head for a shorter time than the female's. When the antlers go, new ones come. The male Caribou with the biggest antlers is the chief of the herd. Caribou have dewclaw on their feet. Their feet are divided into two toes. Their dewclaw can get though the permafrost. They are also good for swimming. In early summer, they find a patch of snow to rest on so they don't get bothered by mosquitoes.

Camouflage

Camouflaging in the Arctic is very important. Almost all the animals in the Arctic are white in the winter. In summer, some animals change colors. Animals such as the Arctic fox and lemmings change from snowy white to brown and black. The reason about the animals being white in the winter is because they won't be seen as much. For the few animals that change colors in the summer, their camouflage is in the little shrubs of the tundra. The gray wolves and polar bears are white all year but they are not in trouble because they are predators, not prey. Caribou, Musk-Ox, and the arctic ground squirrel are in trouble for first, they are prey and second, they only can have their summer camouflage.

Clothing

Clothing is extremely important in the Arctic. Because of the tempreture being below zero you need very heavy clothing. If you bring T-shirts and shorts, you won't be hanging around for a long time.The materials that are suitable in the Arctic are wool, animal fur and thermal material jackets.