Food Habits of Hand-Reared Caribou Rangifer tarandus L. in Newfoundland

Abstract

Three caribou Rangifer tarandus were hand-reared from birth till 3-years-of-age. The food preferences of these animals was determined by allowing them to feed ad lib. (4 hours per week throughout 1 year) in natural, ungrazed habitats and recording the seconds of feeding time per plant species. The caribou took a wide variety of plants but appeared to prefer green growing plants. They appeared unable to detect ground lichens in the absence of a shrub stratum through 18 cm of snow.