Washington Wildlife A-Z: W-Woodland Caribou Traditional Cache

Woodland caribou are one of the most critically endangered mammals in the United States.  There are fewer than 40 left in northeastern Washington and northern Idaho.  This population is known as the International Selkirk Population.  They spend most of their time in the British Columbia area of their range.  

Woodland caribou have two subspecies, mountain woodland caribou and northern woodland caribou.  The US caribou are mountain woodland caribou because they migrate to high alpine peaks in the winter.  Worldwide there are fewer than 2,000 mountain woodland caribou.

Woodland caribou average four feet at the shoulder and are six feet long.  They weight between 250-700 pounds.  They live between 10-15 years.

Their diet consists of ground and treen lichen.  They will also eat grass, shrubs and willows.  Caribou are usually found in mature coniferous forests since it takes 80-140 years for forests to produce enough lichen to feed caribou.

***Congratulations to Mr. Gadget #2 for First To Find!***