Ever since George W. Bush took office last January, one of his biggest issues has been the drilling of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for oil. So far, every time it comes up for a vote, Congress has managed to vote against drilling in this area; however, with our war in the Middle East, things are looking grim for the animals of the arctic. Though many of the species normally found in this area of the world would be quickly placed on the endangered species list if we drilled there, currently only one is on the Endangered Species List. This is the caribou.

Caribou at one time could be found throughout North American and into Britain and Ireland, but now the species has all but vanished, except for the few still living in the Arctic refuge and in the far north regions of the U.S. and Canada.

The caribou's physical characteristics are much like their relatives the reindeer, but caribou are much bigger. A caribou can grow to a height of 34 to 55 inches and weigh up to 701 lbs! Both male and females of this species have antlers; however, the female's antlers are smaller and less elaborate than those found on the males.

The caribou's diet consists mostly of lichens; however, if they cannot find a good supply, the caribou will also eat grasses, shrubs, tree shoots, and mushrooms. Currently, their supply of lichens is dwindling as more and more trees in old growth forests are destroyed for logging and vacation homes.

Caribou spend summers in the tundra of the Arctic and they winter in the evergreen forests south of the tundra. The caribou roam for days at a day, they don't overgraze because they keep moving from place to place before they overgraze.

Right now, the caribou are endangered, but if we drill for oil in the Arctic, they may become more threatened, as well as the other animals in the Arctic. You can help out by sending letters to your senators and donating money to the World Wildlife Fund and the National Wildlife Federation.