A children’s Caribou Story

Herbie and Billy's Caribou Herd by Bob Bartel

          Stomping hooves and heavy breathing interrupted the black bears' sleep. "Is your stomach growling again?" Herbie said. "Phew, your breath smells like fish."

          Billy's ears twitched. "The noise is coming from outside," he grumbled, "and you have berry farts."

          The two bears tumbled out of their cozy den to check on the noise. The Northern Lights danced in greens and reds across the night sky while caribou trotted below. "There must be fifty caribou," Herbie said to Billy and then yelled, "Quiet! Migrate elsewhere."

          Billy shook his paw. "Go away. We're hibernating. See, I'm yawning."

          A mother caribou came up to the bears, "I apologize, but we're traveling to our calving grounds."

          "What's a calving ground?" Billy asked.

          "It's a special place where we give birth to our calves," the cow explained. "By the way, my name is Atik."

          Herbie said, "Well, hurry along. Sleep's calling."

          "Our herd's in trouble," Atik said. "Once we were the largest herd, close to a million caribou, now we're only five thousand. We're in danger of extinction, and the wolves are coming. Can you help?"

"Bears eat caribou, too," Herbie said. "Are you sure you want our help?"

"We've no choice," said the caribou. "The bucks aren't here to help. We're easy prey for wolves during this time, but if the wolves see bears, they'll be careful."

"What's for lunch?" asked Billy. "When we're awake, we're hungry."

"There's always lichen," Atik said. "We'll share."

"Is lichen sweet like berries?" asked Herbie.

"No," said Atik.

“Is it filling or fatty like fish?" asked Billy.

"No," said Atik.

"I guess if we have to eat lichen, we could. Omnivores eat anything," Herbie said.

"Just don't eat us," Atik said.

          After the bears introduced themselves, Herbie said, "We'll come because if caribou are threatened, we're all threatened,"

          "Can you swim?" asked Atik.

          "Are there berries in the middle of the lake?" Herbie asked Billy.

          "No," Billy replied.

          "Then, no, we can't swim," Herbie said.

          "But there will be fish," Billy offered.

          "Well, we must cross some rivers," Atik said. "Polar bears can swim!"

          "Well, black bears are as good as any polar bear!" Billy said.

          "Uh… maybe not," Herbie whispered.

           Atik introduced the bears to the herd. She reminded the caribou of the wolves' nearness, and the caribou resumed their trek to the calving grounds.

Groggy from sleep and hunger, the two bears had difficulty keeping up. They were glad for a lichen break, even though it tasted like rocks.

The first river was ice-edged, and its water was cold and dark.

"It's sink or swim," Billy said as chunks of ice floated by.

"Let's pretend we're polar bears," said Herbie. The two bears jumped in.

They furiously paddled until they reached the ice on the other side. There was no time for fishing.

"A berry break in the middle would have been nice," said Herbie, crawling onto the ice and shaking the water from his fur.

When they came to the calving grounds, the mothers started calving. All the calves were born within five days.

"Ah, look at those pretty calves," Billy said. "The only thing cuter is a cuddly bear cub."

"You're an old softie," Herbie said. "Don't spend your time watching calves with wolves nearby."

The wolves circled the herd. The bears stood on their hind legs whenever the wolves got close, looking tall and fearsome. "My rear legs are tired!" Herbie said.

"Standing on two legs makes us look like hairy humans," Billy said.

"This job might be easier if we were human. Humans have guns," Herbie said. "Now, we only threaten the wolves."

"But," Billy said, "Guns don't solve anything."

The wiry wolf pack leader trotted up to the two bears. He looked hungry and angry, and his yellow teeth looked sharp. "I'm Fred, wolf pack leader. I'm asking you bears to step aside and let us eat a couple of calves."

"No," Herbie said firmly. "We promised to protect them because they're an endangered herd."

"Why do wolves get blamed for caribou problems?" Fred replied angrily. "We eat just a few. What about climate change and humans building roads and dams, damaging their habitat? Are you protecting them from that? It isn't all our fault!" Fred was spitting mad. "It's not fair. Wolves are carnivores and can only eat meat, while you omnivores eat anything."

"Well, lichen is an acquired taste," Billy said. "But if you leave the caribou alone and hunt some moose, we'll catch fish for you after the caribou leave. We're good at fishing."

Fred returned to the pack, angry. The wolves circled the herd, looking for a chance to pounce on a wayward calf. The wolves snarled during the day and howled at night. The bears stood tall, keeping the pack away, snacking on lichen when they could.

Days passed, the spring days warmed to summer, and the black flies thickened. The young caribou had grown enough to keep up with their mothers and strong enough to migrate to their summer home to join the bucks.

On the day the caribou left, Atik came to the bears with Aurora, her young calf. "Thank you. Without you, the wolves would have succeeded. The calves are bigger and stronger, so the wolves will have difficulty keeping up. Today, our future looks brighter." With that, Atik and Aurora returned to the herd.

  The two bears waved goodbye. "Glad to help," said Billy. The two bears looked down at their growling stomachs.

"Next time, bring fish and berries," yelled Billie after the disappearing herd.

"Time to find some other food," Herbie said. "I've had enough lichen."

"Hey, Fred," Billy yelled, "Want some fish? We're off to catch some at the rapids." The wolf pack joined the bears for a fish dinner on the riverbank.

After the feast, the two furry friends slowly lumbered off, searching for berries for dessert.