movement was under way along the ridges between camp and Little River.
The animals had doubtless made the passage of the river near its mouth.
I followed some of them to a bog at the upper end of Little River Ridge,
where I began to film several bucks and a lone, inquisitive, one-horned
doe. While the latter was approaching me within a hundred feet, I caught
a movement out of the corner of my eye, and all at once the bog seemed
full of Caribou. There were 75-100 of them, chiefly bucks, and not more
than 50 yards or so distant across the open bog. They presently moved
on, without haste, and ascended the Middle Ridge.
Several hours later about 50 more Caribou passed through this bog. Then
a band of 17 came along, composed chiefly of does and their fawns, with
a couple of young bucks; they did not even turn their heads in my
direction as I stood in the open 50 yards away. Eventually a herd of
about 150 (the largest I saw during the whole season) passed along the
well-worn trails on the summit of the Middle Ridge. It seemed to include
all sexes and ages, with possibly a majority of does and fawns; bringing
up the rear was a limping patriarch with huge antlers, a heavy mane, and
a lingering winter coat.
During the remainder of the afternoon several other groups appeared in
that general area. About 15 individuals descended Little River Ridge
(fig. 2) to the Eastern Bog, but retraced their course after coming
close to several of us; they were mostly does, with four fawns and a few
bucks. Another band, of all ages and sexes and numbering perhaps a
hundred individuals, crossed at the rapid on Little River. The
temperatures that had prevailed during this day's marked migratory
movements varied from about 45° to 50°. They were low enough to keep the
black flies completely in abeyance, and the mosquito season was
virtually over. Although I noticed none of the parasitic flies, possibly
enough of them were present to keep the Caribou moving actively against
a moderate to brisk northerly wind. Now and again a big buck could be
seen fairly jumping out of its skin with the vigor of vibrating its
sides to shake off the tormentors.
On August 25 (the second day of the big movement) I watched and filmed
the pageant of Caribou migration from the southwestern bank of Little
River. The turfy slopes of the Barrens, carpeted with low ericaceous
shrubs, mosses, and reindeer lichens, and dotted here and there with
little thickets of dwarf birch, spruce, and tamarack, stretched
invitingly before me. Temperatures ranging from 40° to 51°, with a brisk
northwest breeze sweeping down the river, happily suppressed most of the
black flies.
The Caribou came along at intervals from the eastward, in bands up to 75
strong, either to make the passage of the river or to continue upstream
along the opposite ridge. A small number might make the crossing in one
or two files, but one of the larger bands might spread out widely in the
shallow rapid. One of the photographs (fig. 7) shows approximately 75
Caribou going divergent ways at this rapid: about 20 passing upstream
along the ridge on the far side, including some pausing to feed on the
low vegetation; 8 or 9 moving down the slope of the ridge to the water's
edge; about 10 bucks, 16 does, and 6 fawns making the passage of the
river; and about 13 arriving on the near shore and pausing to feed. The
adults were able to step across in the swift water, while the fawns swam
part of the way. The bucks were apparently in the minority again on this
day.
One group of some 40 does and fawns, after swimming the river near its
mouth, came hurrying along the ridge in close array directly toward my
station, and did not take alarm until they had arrived within 100 feet.
Then they turned tail and, each with its flag erect, beat a hasty
retreat. The maneuver made a scene of considerable charm and interest.
While I was filming a dozen Caribou in the Eastern Bog from the Middle
Ridge, a stray fawn came up and halted for some seconds within a rod of
me. The bewildered look in its big eyes was comical though pathetic. In
presently dashing on, it passed within a dozen feet.
Late in the afternoon Fred Schweder, Jr., reported about a thousand
Caribou, in various bands up to 100 strong, crossing Little River here
and there a mile or so above its mouth. They were traveling southwest.
August 26 was marked by mist squalls, a maximum temperature of
45°, and a slackening in the numbers of passing Caribou. Late in
the morning a band of more than 30 bucks, does, and fawns
crossed the rapid on Little River. In the early afternoon
scattering individuals and a band of 15 or 20 did likewise.
Presently another band of about 22 animals came (fig. 8); it
consisted chiefly of does and fawns, but there were several
medium-sized bucks bringing up the rear. They crossed the rapid
in a somewhat V-shaped formation, open at the front. The
vanguard reached a rocky strip 25 yards in front of my camera
and began to feed contentedly on the low vegetation. However,
a couple of does still in the water eyed me intently and
presumably communicated their misgivings to the others, for all
turned and went back through the river without panic or haste,
although they trotted on reaching the farther shore. Later there
were about 25 Caribou crossing the bay, and nearly as many on
Little River Ridge.
The weather on August 27, while mostly sunny, included
occasional snow or sleet flurries; the northerly wind was brisk
to strong; and the temperature, ranging from 37° to 50°,
prevented the appearance of black flies. By 10:20 a.m. a band of
about 10 does and fawns crossed the rapid on Little River. Two
hours later 12-15 animals followed the same course, and
presently 75-100 passed upstream on the far side, with a good
deal of grunting. About 2:35 p.m. nearly a hundred Caribou,
perhaps alarmed by a passing plane, dashed north out of the
Eastern Bog. By 4:45 p.m. 20 or more bucks, does, and fawns swam
across Little River at its mouth; several of the biggest bucks,
with enormous antlers, led the advance into the water. An hour
later, on the eastern side of the river, half a dozen of the
animals were lying down, but with heads erect, and facing down
wind. At this period of the day several more bands of moderate
size swam over to the west side of the river. A goodly number of
the animals fed within 25 yards of me for a considerable time.
The following day was nearly cloudless; wind moderate, westerly;
temperature, 37.5° to 66°--high enough to bring out the black
flies (but extremely few mosquitoes) after several days of
virtual freedom from these scourges. Between 11:30 a.m. and 3
p.m. at least 500 Caribou, coming from the east, must have
passed the mouth of Little River, some swimming across at that
point (figs. 9, 12), and others proceeding various distances
upstream before undertaking the passage. A few of the larger
bands numbered approximately 30, 40, and 75 individuals. Some
consisted largely of does and fawns, some of big bucks. One of
the larger bands approached the river on the run, plunged in
recklessly, and landed on the western shore some 30 feet
directly in front of my battery of cameras. Most of the animals
on this and similar occasions were remarkably indifferent to me
as I operated the cameras in full view of them. Some among them
would approach within a rod or less and stare me in the face
without alarm (figs. 11, 14).
August 29 was a cloudy, nearly calm day, with temperatures
ranging from 49.5° to 73°--conditions more propitious for black
flies than for their victims. There was comparatively little
local movement among the Caribou--in the morning two or three
swimming across the bay and a band of 20 (6 old bucks, the rest
does and fawns) swimming south across the mouth of Windy River;
in mid-afternoon a band of 10 running along the ridge on the
eastern side of Little River; and about 100 reported during the
day in the vicinity of Windy Bay by Fred Schweder, Jr. The "big
movement" had passed its peak.
The next day was largely sunny, with a light easterly or
southeasterly wind and temperatures of 50° to 68°. There were
comparatively few black flies and fewer mosquitoes. During a
five-hour vigil near the mouth of Little River I noticed only
about 50 Caribou, most of them passing westward by ones, twos,
and intermediate numbers up to 17 (does and fawns) in a band.
Mike Schweder reported a total of about 200 animals seen within
a few miles of camp.
The morning of August 31 was dismal and overcast, with a heavy
shower; in the afternoon the sky cleared; wind brisk, south to
west; temperature, 47° to 74.5°. Several Caribou passed along
the eastern side of Little River, and Fred Schweder, Jr.,
reported about 300 some miles north of camp, moving in a
southwesterly direction.
Clouds and rain ushered in the morning of September 1; the
afternoon was sunny; wind light to strong, west to northwest;
temperature, 48° to 60°. The next day was partly cloudy, with a
mist squall or two; wind light to brisk, northwesterly;
temperature, 38° to 51.5°. No Caribou were reported on either
day.
September 3 was largely cloudy, with some mist squalls; wind
light to moderate, northerly to easterly; temperature, 40° to
51°. There were enough black flies to be slightly troublesome.
Two bucks, two does, and a fawn were noted at Bear Slough.
September 4 was partly cloudy, with drizzling rain; wind light,
east to south and southwest; temperature, 43° to 58°. I saw
about 22 Caribou (largely does and fawns), in several different
groups, at Bear Slough and vicinity, and Fred Schweder, Jr.,
reported about 200 in the same area. Two were noted swimming to
the south side of Windy Bay.
September 5 was marked by a driving, day-long rainstorm; wind
brisk, easterly; temperature, 43° to 50°. A band of about 20
Caribou (mostly does and fawns, with several middle-aged bucks),
besides one or two single animals, were encountered at Bear
Slough.
September 6 was a cloudy, raw day, with several snow flurries;
wind brisk, northerly; temperature, 33° to 35°. Not a fly was
abroad. Two Caribou moved northwest along Little River Ridge;
a band of about 75 (mainly does and fawns, but with a fair
number of big bucks) passed in the same direction along the
Middle Ridge; and about 25 others grazed along the eastern side
of Little River. Later about 15-20 more were seen about the
mouth of Little River and on a near-by island, and eight swam
across Windy Bay to the south side. Fred reported seeing about
300 during the day north and west of camp; they were moving in a
northerly direction.
It was cloudy nearly all day on September 7; wind moderate,
northerly; temperature, 33° to 40°. No black flies were in
evidence. A dozen or more Caribou took to the water from an
island in Windy Bay and made for the north shore. A band of
about 25 passed along Little River Ridge toward the river's
mouth.
September 8 was mostly cloudy; wind moderate to strong,
southeasterly; temperature, 37° to 42°. Fred reported a band of
about 100 Caribou crossing the mouth of Little River toward the
west. A dozen or more swam southward over Windy Bay at the usual
crossing-place. Anoteelik brought in 13 tongues from that many
freshly killed Caribou; he had secured them with a .22 rifle.
A driving gale from the east, with rain and sleet, continued
through the day on September 9; temperature, 36° to 37°. A
solitary buck inspected our camp from the south side of Windy
River, then retreated.
An overcast sky, with some drizzle and sleet, prevailed on
September 10; wind light, east to northeast; temperature, 35.5°
to 42.5°. No flies present for some days past. Fred reported
about 20 Caribou moving westward in the vicinity of Little
River.
On September 11 clouds and mist squalls in the morning gave way
to sunshine in the afternoon; wind light, easterly; temperature,
37° to 45.5°. Caribou were noted as follows: five on the east
side of Little River; two does and a fawn on an island in Windy
Bay; a doe and a fawn swimming northward across this bay; half a
dozen on Josie's Hill. During a flight from Churchill to Nueltin
Lake on this day, Charles Schweder detected no Caribou at all,
and concluded that the bulk of the migrating herds had by this
time passed to the southward of his course. During the latter
part of August, while descending the Thlewiaza River from
Nueltin Lake to Hudson Bay, he had seen thousands of the
animals--as many as 5,000 in a single day, although no more than
500 in a single herd.
Sun, clouds, and rain marked September 12; wind moderate to
light, south to west; temperature, 48° to 60°. Only two Caribou
were reported.
September 13 was cloudy, with intermittent mist squalls and a
little sun; wind light to brisk, northerly; temperature, 34° to
about 44°. Two bands of Caribou (of four and five animals)
appeared near the mouth of Windy River.
It was generally cloudy, with a snow squall, on September 14;
wind brisk to light, northerly; temperature, 33° to 41°. A doe
and a fawn, proceeding northward, and four or five other Caribou
appeared on the near-by ridges.
The weather was clear on the 15th, with a moderate to brisk
north wind and temperatures of 29° to 48°; ice at edge of the
river. Fred reported about 100 Caribou (none of them bucks)
north of camp, and Anoteelik secured 13 east of Little River.
On the morning of the 16th intermittent snow flurries left a
thin cover on the ground, but it was practically dissipated by
the afternoon sun; wind brisk, northerly; temperature, 30° to
39°. Fred reported three old does without fawns, and no bucks.
September 17 was mostly cloudy, with a little sun; wind light,
northwest and west; temperature, 30° to 43°. A single Caribou
was seen on the south side of Windy River.
Clear skies prevailed on September 18; wind brisk, westerly;
temperature, 35° to 53.5°; ice at edge of the river. A solitary
black fly appeared. No Caribou reported.
September 19 was another clear day; wind moderate to brisk,
west-southwest; temperature, 42° to 60°. Anoteelik, camping on
the Barrens about 2 miles to the north of camp for the past
couple of days, reports having killed 20 Caribou (only one of
them a buck).
Light rain, soon changing to sleet, and then frequent snow
squalls, provided the principal weather elements on September
20; wind light to strong, west to north; temperature, 27° to
43.5°. The ground became partly covered with snow. A big buck,
followed several hours later by a doe and a fawn, swam across to
the north side of Windy River at its mouth. Ten more Caribou
were taken by Anoteelik. Charles considered that the retrograde
movement to the north was definitely under way. There had been
indications of it on various days from September 6 on.
Except for a few snow flurries, it was largely sunny on the
21st; wind brisk to moderate, north to northwest; temperature,
26° to 34°. About a quarter of an inch of snow remained in
sheltered places. A doe and a fawn appeared near camp.
There was considerable snowfall on the 22nd; wind light to
moderate, westerly; temperature, 30° to 33°; ice in edge of the
river. A large buck left tracks in the snow along the Windy
River.
September 23 was partly cloudy; wind brisk, north-northwest;
temperature, 21° to 32°; about a quarter of an inch of snow on
the ground, and a tundra pond mostly frozen over. Several small
groups of Caribou (a doe and a fawn; three does and two fawns;
and three others) appeared on the near-by ridges.
September 24 was mostly cloudy; wind moderate to brisk,
northerly; temperature, 26° to 41°; nearly an inch of fresh snow
on the ground. About 15 does and fawns were resting or feeding
quietly on the east side of Little River, and tracks of about
half a dozen were noted on Camp Ridge. Charles Schweder reported
about 50 Caribou, in three slightly separated bands, appearing
during the evening on the south side of Windy River about 2
miles above its mouth, as if contemplating a crossing. He
thought they may have been alarmed by Wolves.
September 25 was a cloudy day; wind moderate to light, northerly
to westerly; temperature, 31° to 36°; open ground largely bare
by afternoon; ice forming on Windy Bay. Some Caribou tracks were
noted on the north side of Windy River.
There were clouds, a sprinkle or two of rain, and a little
sunshine on the 26th; wind brisk to moderate, southwest to west;
temperature, 36° to 47.5°; ground becoming practically bare.
Three Caribou were seen beyond Little River, and a doe and a
fawn on the south side of Windy River.
The 27th was mostly cloudy, with a thick snow flurry; wind
brisk, northwest; temperature, 33° to 40°. Two tundra ponds,
previously frozen, were mostly open. Three bucks, a doe, and a
fawn were noted on the south side of Windy River.
September 28 was mostly cloudy; wind brisk to light,
north-northwest; temperature, 28.5° to 40°; a little snow on the
ground disappearing. Seven large bucks (six in one band, moving
northward) passed over Camp Ridge, and a dozen other Caribou
(including does) were seen beyond Little River.
The 29th was chiefly sunny; wind very light to brisk, west to
southwest; temperature, 29° to 48°; ground bare. A band of about
15 Caribou appeared on the north side of Windy River at its
mouth. They included four large and two smaller bucks, the
remainder being does and fawns. They were apparently traveling
south.
The 30th was cloudy, with a sprinkle of rain; wind light,
westerly; temperature, 39° to 48°; ground bare. A few black
flies were brought out by the mild weather. During an
all-morning trip to Point Lake, Charles saw no Caribou, but in
the afternoon he reported about 200 on the eastern side of
Little River. There were also half a dozen bucks on the south
side of Windy River.
October 1 was a rare, fine, sunshiny day in the Barrens; wind
moderate to brisk, south to southwest; temperature, 37° to 61°;
ground bare; tundra ponds mostly ice-covered. A blowfly crawled
over a caribou carcass, and possibly a few black flies were
abroad. Two bucks passed from the shoal water of Duck Bay over
Little River Ridge. Charles reported about 40 Caribou moving
north a mile or two north of camp, and I saw a single buck
likewise engaged. During the preceding week or so Fred had seen
a good many of the animals between the upper Kazan River and
Nueltin Lake; they were moving south and west.
The 2nd was another clear day; wind moderate, southwest;
temperature, 41° to 65°; ground bare. About five does and fawns
were seen at dusk in the spruce tract near Four-hill Creek.
The next day was drizzly and foggy throughout; wind light,
southwest to southeast; temperature, 41° to 43.5°. No Caribou
sighted. Eskimos arriving in camp reported them scarce along the
way from the upper Kazan River.
October 4 was a dismal, dark day, with steady light rain
throughout; wind very light, easterly; temperature, 36° to
42.5°. Fred reported 20 Caribou north of camp.
Snow fell throughout the 5th; wind light, north-northwest;
temperature, 31° to 35°. No Caribou sighted.
With 6 inches of snow on the ground in the morning, there was
some additional precipitation during the overcast day of
October 6; wind moderate to brisk, northeast; temperature, 31°
to 33°; waters clear of ice. No Caribou sighted.
October 7 was a generally cloudy day; wind moderate to very
light, northerly; temperature, 24° to 29°; watercourses largely
open. In the morning Charles reported a couple of hundred
Caribou swimming southward across Windy Bay; he considered this
a part of the final southward movement into the timbered
country--apparently initiated by the recent snowstorm. Later he
saw an approximately equal number 2 miles north of camp, moving
toward the bay; and Fred encountered about 50 on the north side
of the bay.
Late on the 8th clouds gave way to sunshine; nearly calm to a
gentle breeze from west and southwest; temperature, 26.5° to
33.5°; 6 inches of snow on ground. I obtained a distant view of
about 100 Caribou resting near Glacier Pond. Perhaps less than a
quarter of them were old bucks; the remainder, younger bucks,
does, and fawns.
October 9 was largely sunny, with light rain in the evening;
wind light to moderate, southwest to south; temperature, 29° to
38°; ground with a 6-inch snow covering. No Caribou sighted.
Some snow fell on the 10th, though the day was partly sunny;
wind very light, south to west; temperature, 33° to 36°. No
Caribou sighted.
Clouds prevailed on the 11th; wind no more than very light,
westerly; temperature, 33° to 38°; about 4 inches of snow on
ground. Charles reported about a thousand Caribou scattered over
a long hill several miles to the northwest; they were not
traveling.
October 12 was marked by clouds, mist, and rain; wind light to
moderate, southwesterly; temperature, 32° to 40°. No Caribou
sighted.
There was a little sun on the 13th; wind light to moderate, west
to east; temperature, 37° to 45.5°; ground largely bare and
tundra ponds open. In the afternoon we set out for Simons' Lake,
and camped about 4 miles up the Windy River. No Caribou sighted.
On the 14th we reached the upper end of Simons' Lake, for a
several days' stay at a deserted trading-post. There were snow
flurries and a little rain; wind brisk, westerly; temperature,
35° to 36°; ground mostly bare. A band of about 15 Caribou,
a solitary buck, and many tracks and droppings were seen along
the way.
October 15 was partly cloudy; wind very light to light, west to
northwest and east; temperature, 21° to 36°. Four Caribou
sighted.
October 16 was a stormy, cloudy day; wind brisk, easterly;
temperature, 30.5° to 34°. About a dozen Caribou were noted in
the vicinity of Simons' Lake.
A strong easterly gale during the night, with heavy rain, was
followed during the day of the 17th by steady rain, with
moderate to light easterly or southeasterly wind; temperature,
35° to 38°. A single Caribou seen.
October 18 was partly cloudy; wind brisk to light, westerly;
temperature, 31° to 41°; waters open; some small patches of snow
in sight. Four Caribou (at least two of them bucks) passed by.
The 19th was partly cloudy; nearly calm to moderate wind, west
and northwest; temperature, 30° to 40°. About five or six bucks
(three of them together) appeared, perhaps moving south.
The weather on the 20th was raw, dismal, and gusty; wind brisk,
northwest; temperature, 27° to about 35°; some ice on Simons'
Lake; a little fresh snow on higher hills. No Caribou sighted.
October 21 was somewhat foggy; nearly calm; temperature, 25° to
32°; Simons' Lake partly frozen; ground generally bare. A lone
fawn was seen as we started on the return trip to the Windy
River post.
The 22nd was largely sunny; wind very light to brisk,
southwesterly; temperature, about 30° to 46°. A medium-sized
buck was seen near the mouth of Windy River.
The 23rd was largely cloudy; wind brisk, southwest; temperature,
35° to 39°; ground practically all bare; bay and river open.
A buck started to cross to the north side of Windy River, but
went back.
For the better part of a week, till October 29, I found no
further fresh indications of Caribou in our vicinity. In the
meantime the weather was largely cloudy, with some rain and snow
(4-5 inches of the latter on the 27th); winds very light to
moderate, swinging from east to south and west; temperature, 27°
to 50°; waters generally open.
October 29 was largely cloudy; a gentle wind, south to east;
temperature, 29° to 35°; 4-5 inches of snow on ground; thin ice
on a tundra pond. The fresh track of a buck (fig. 20) was found
near camp.
On the 30th gentle rain changed to snow; calm to a moderate
wind, northeast to north; temperature, 30° to 33°. Tracks showed
the passing of about a dozen Caribou, including half a dozen
that swam westward across the mouth of Little River, breaking
through a rim of ice at the edge.
Clouds prevailed on the 31st; wind moderate to brisk, northerly;
temperature, 17° to 25.5°; 5-6 inches of snow on ground, with
drifts up to a foot deep; river and lake open. Fred reported
three Caribou.