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Like all deer, caribou shed and regrow their antlers every year -- a huge investment of calcium, phosphorus, and other resources to grow and a heavy burden to carry. Unlike other deer, both sexes of caribou carry antlers, and also unlike many deer species, the antlers have a function besides fighting and display: the 'shovels' in front of the nose are used to push snow aside and help find food during the winter. Some of these are still in 'velvet' (the furry skin layer that covers growing antlers); others -- photographed in September -- have complete antlers and are on colorful fall tundra. They were photographed in Denali Park, Alaska |
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