Finding an antler in the wild may feel like the discovery of calcified treasure. I, on occasion, have rested a pair beneath the float of my pack and brought them home to rest on a windowsill or kitchen ledge. Despite being an aesthetic artefact in the house, antlers are better used when left on the forest floor where local rodents can take advantage of the prized calcium.
Though they carry the relic quality of bones, antlers are short-lived in growth (only several months). They are renewed each year – elk shed their antlers in the spring while deer, moose and caribou tend to lose theirs in early winter.
Evolution is known to develop impressively when it comes to the art of mating; when competing for a mate, the animal with the largest set of antlers has an obvious advantage. However, keep in mind, animals with greater stature often lead to lengthier battles. Landing a mate may use up important reserves required for the upcoming winter.
As the herbivore’s diet is not high in calcium, the animal relies on a portion of their bones to donate nutrients (often from their ribcage). Both sexes of caribou (as opposed to deer, elk and moose) grow antlers, for females the purpose may be to defend their autumn food sources.
This article was written by Emily Nilsen, TLC’s Terrestrial Stewardship Advisor in the Kootenay Region, and appeared in the Nelson Express newspaper on the importance of protecting habitat for plants, animals and natural communities. If you would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Nilsen at enilsen@conservancy.bc.ca or 250-354-7345.
