Caribou Crossing the Firth River

The Porcupine Caribou herd, which was estimated at 218,000 animals in 2017, migrates every spring to the Arctic coast west of the Firth to calve. Then, after calving is complete, the herd gradually migrates, often in small groups, to the southeast on its way to its wintering grounds in the mountains further south. This means crossing the Firth River.

Some distance downstream from our lunch spot; caribou were crossing the river. It was a moment of great excitement. After the first large group, some smaller groups consisting of mothers and their calves came through. Each calf was sticking closely to its mother, as for the first year of its life, a caribou calf is almost inseparable from its mother while it learns what it must do to survive. When it eats, it often has its nose near the mother’s nose and learns what foods she is eating so that it can follow suit. We watched as several caribou calves closely followed their mothers into the water and crossed the river.

However, this intimacy does not go on forever. At one year, just before the next calf is born, the mother suddenly rejects it and drives it away. The poor calf at first seems confused and upset, and tries to maintain contact, but eventually it gives up, and joins a peer group of similarly rejected one-year olds. It all sounds very heart rendering, but nature does what it needs to do to preserve the species.