A family of caribou in a snowy landscape, Northwest Territories

© Geoffrey Reynaud/Getty Image

A stroll in the snow

North America is home to approximately 3.5 million caribou population. Known as reindeer in other parts of the world, caribou are a species of deer native to the tundra, arctic and mountainous regions of Siberia, Northern Europe and North America. Their thick coat of fur keeps them highly insulated and helps them thrive through the frigid winters. The shade of the coat tends to vary depending on the season. It generally becomes lighter in the winter and darker in the summer. Furthermore, caribou possess sharp, concave hooves which enable them to navigate through snowy and icy landscapes like in our image today.