Arctic Caribou Supplement Diets with Shed Antlers, Study Finds

A new study on shed antlers collected from calving grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge provides information regarding caribou dietary habits. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found evidence suggesting that caribou, particularly females with newborns, consume antlers shed in previous years. This activity is believed to supplement their diets with crucial minerals.

Caribou, particularly females with newborns, consume antlers shed in previous years to supplement their diets with crucial minerals.

Research Unveiled in Ecology and Evolution

The study was published in the journal Ecology and Evolution. Associate Professor Joshua Miller and doctoral graduate Madison Gaetano from the University of Cincinnati conducted the research. Their study involved antlers collected from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, home to the Porcupine caribou herd.

The Enduring Mineral Source of the Tundra

Antlers, which are made of bone, grow from the top of the skull. Male caribou antlers can be substantial, while female antlers are smaller. The cold and dry conditions of the Arctic tundra allow shed antlers to persist for hundreds of years. These antlers serve as a source of minerals, including calcium and phosphorus, for grazing caribou, particularly at the conclusion of their migrations.