Caribou Movements in a Late Spring Year (1987)

When spring comes late to the range of the Porcupine Caribou Herd (PCH), migration of caribou to their traditional calving grounds on the foothills and coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge is delayed.

This map shows the herd's calving distribution and post calving movements as represented by the movements of a satellite-collared cow caribou during the late spring of 1987.

In most years a majority of the herd's calves are born on the foothills and coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge. In 1987, most calves were born in Canada and along the migration route. After the calves were strong enough to travel, the herd moved to the Arctic Refuge to get nutritious forage. In July the animals moved to coastal areas to find relief from mosquitos.