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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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