Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae

Listing Status:    and  

General Information

Caribou have large, concave hoofs that spread widely to support the animal in snow and soft tundra. The feet also function as paddles when caribou swim. Caribou are the only member of the deer family (Cervidae) in which both sexes grow antlers. Antlers of adult bulls are large and massive; those of adult cows are much shorter and are usually more slender and irregular. In late fall, caribou are clove-brown with a white neck, rump, and feet and often have a white flank stripe. The hair of newborn calves is generally reddish-brown. Newborn calves weigh an average of 13 pounds (6 kg) and grow very quickly. They may double their weight in 10-15 days. Weights of adult bulls average 350-400 pounds (159-182 kg). However, weights of 700 pounds (318 kg) have been recorded. Mature females average 175-225 pounds (80-120 kg). Caribou in northern and southwestern Alaska are generally smaller than caribou in the Interior and in southern parts of the state. The Service is currently working to recover the Selkirk Mountain population of the woodland caribou.

Population detail

The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Woodland caribou 

  • Population location: U.S.A. (ID, WA), Canada (that part of S.E. British Columbia bounded by the U.S.-Can. border, Columbia R., Kootenay R., Kootenay L., and Kootenai R.)
    Listing status:  Endangered
    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:  Idaho , Washington
    • Countries in which the this population is known to occur:  Canada
  • Population location: MT pop.
    Listing status:  Under Review
    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:  Montana
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
01/14/1983 Pacific Region (Region 1) Selkirk Mountain population
Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) MT pop.

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 16 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
11/01/2000 65 FR 65287 65288 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding for a Petition To Delist the Woodland Caribou
11/15/1994 59 FR 58982 59028 ETWP; Animal Candidate Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species.
11/29/1993 58 FR 62623 62624 ETWP; Notice of 90-Day Finding on Petition to Delist the Selkirk Mountains Woodland Caribou
08/19/1992 57 FR 37515 Public Meeting and Extending the Public Comment Period on Selkirk Mountains Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) Revised Recovery Plan; 57 FR 37515
11/21/1991 56 FR 58804 58836 ETWP; Animal Candidate Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species; 56 FR 58804 58836

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
03/04/1994 Recovery Plan for Selkirk Mountain Woodland Caribou View Implementation Progress Final Revision 2
Five Year Review
Date Title
12/05/2008 Southern Selkirk Mountain Caribou Population 5-Year Review

» Critical Habitat

No critical habitat rules have been published for the Woodland caribou.

» Conservation Plans

No conservation plans have been created for Woodland caribou

» Petitions

Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 5 of 5 )
Date Citation Page Title Finding
11/01/2000 65 FR 65287 65288 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding for a Petition To Delist the Woodland Caribou
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 11/29/1993 58 FR 62623 62624 ETWP; Notice of 90-Day Finding on Petition to Delist the Selkirk Mountains Woodland Caribou
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 01/21/1987 52 FR 2239 2242 Findings on Petitions & Initiation of Status Reviews; 52 FR 2239-2242
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Not warranted
    • 12/18/1984 49 FR 49118 49119 Findings on 5 Petitions & of Review of 5 Species; 49 FR 49118-49119
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial
  • Notice Notice of Review
    • 01/20/1984 49 FR 2485 2488 Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of Progress on Listing Actions; 49 FR 2485-2488
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: August 24, 2009