Behavior of Barren Ground Caribou on Their Calving Grounds

Vos, Antoon de

doi:10.2307/3797511

Cited by 40 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…But apart from the fact that they never dared to approach me or go downwind of me before fleeing, and that they were the first animals in mixed bands actually to take flight (cf. Kelsall, 1957;de Vos, I960;Lent, 1966;Bergerud, 1974), their behaviour when it comes to energy expenditute did not otherwise deviate from the general pattern I have described above. Anorher possible objecrion to the general conclusions I draw from my observations could be that they are based solely on the flight behaviour the caribou exhibit in June.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…This number is the upper limit for what I will label "small bands" although de Vos (I960) found that the activity pattern in bands with less than 50 individuals appeared to be more closely coordinated than in larger bands. The behaviour of caribou towards man in terms of flight or flushing distance are considered to vary considerably both within and between populations (Kelsall, 1957;de Vos, I960;Lent, 1966;Bergerud, 1974;Bubenik, 1975). I have estimated this distance to be roughly 200-400 m. during my walkabouts.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Once beyond my scent, they stopped occasionally to look back in my direction in the usual manner, but would keep on fleeing until they passed out of sight. Other situations have also been recorded when scent has not triggered flight behaviour (Kelsall, 1957;de Vos, I960;Bubenik, 1975).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From my own experience an obvious distinction is between animals in large and small bands. Surprisingly, alrhough band size is regarded as relevant in other contexts (Kelsall, 1957;de Vos, I960;Bergerud, 1974;Whitten & Cameron, 1986), it has been ignored when it comes to the study of the caribou's flight behaviour. This is also true in Murie's work, but thanks to his documentations we are able to ascertain whether differences in behaviour were the result of membership of large or small bands (Murie, 1944).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Energy-expending behaviour in frightened caribou when dispersed singly or in small bands

Blehr

1997

Ran

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Abstract:The behaviour of single, and small bands of caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) when confronted by humans was compared with the energy-saving behaviour zoologists have ascribed to caribou in encounters with nonhunting wolves (Canis lupus). When confronted by me, or upon getting my scent, caribou ran away on all occasions. Their flight was occasionally interrupted by short stops to look back in my direction, but would continue on all occasions until they were out of sight. This behaviour is inconsistent with the one ascribed to caribou by zoologists when the intruder is a wolf instead of a human. In their view, the caribou stop their flight soon after the wolf gives up the chase, and accordingly save energy owing to their ability to distinguish between hunting and non-hunting wolves. However, small bands of caribou, as well as single animals, have never been observed to behave in this manner. On the contrary, the behaviour of caribou in such encounters is known to follow the same pattern as in their encounters with humans. Energy-saving behaviour is, however, sometimes observed when caribou become inquisitive about something in their surroundings. They will then readily approach as well as try to get down-wind of the object. When the object does not induce fear, it may simply be ignored, or charged before the caribou calm down. The effect of this "confirming behaviour" is that energy which would otherwise have been spent in needless flights from non-predators is saved.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Energy-expending behaviour in frightened caribou when dispersed singly or in small bands

Blehr

1997

Ran

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“…Also, caribou seem most sensitive to disturbance during calving (DeVos, 1960;Lent, 1964;Kelsall, 1968;Bergerud, 1974;Miller and Gunn, 1979), and severe disturbance during calving may be of greater consequence to the population (through direct mortality of calves) than disturbance at other times. Presumably there are advantages, leading to increased survival, for caribou to annually use traditional calving areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Calving distribution of Alaska's Steese-Fortymile caribou herd: A case of infidelity?

Valkenburg¹,

Davis²

1986

Ran

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The Stecse-Fortymile caribou (Rangifer tarandus grand) herd has changed its calving distribution frequently during the past 30 years. A «traditional» calving area, used for decades, west of the Steese Highway (Preacher Creek) was abandoned after 1963. By the early 1970's, a new calving area had been established 74 km to the southeast in the Birch Creek drainage. This new calving area was abandoned after 1976. From 1977 through 1983, calving occurred in annually variable locations approximately 136 km southeast of the Birch Creek calving area. In 1984, however, the herd again calved in the general vicinity of the Birch Creek calving area. General characteristics of the various calving areas are described, and calving distribution is discussed in relation to herd size, development and disturbance, predator abundance, and other factors. Location of calving in recent years was unpredictable, which warrants reconsidering the merit of protecting only previously important calving grounds.

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