
20 
Along our transects in Northwest Territories we counted 4, 606 caribou, 
This population was quite evenly distributed over 120 lineal miles of transect. 
We estimated that the effective count covered a half-mile strip, which 
yields an average density of 76.5 animals per square mile. Since the animals were 
quite evenly distributed both along the Bay and inland, it appeared logical to assume 
that the density observed held true for the entire block surrounded by the transect. 
On this basis, the caribou population of the 1500 square miles involved would be 
114, 750. It is worthy of note that neither to the north or to the west of our transect 
was there any sign of diminution in caribou numbers. 
One curious observation was the fact that several calf caribou, apparently 
several weeks old, were seen with the small Cape Churchill herd while none were 
seen with the large herd in the Northwest Territories. Yearlings could be identified 
in both herds. 
Cranes, either sandhill or little brown, were seen as follows: 
Wawa Lakes 2 
Manitoba (between 59 and 
60 degrees latitude) 5 
Northwest Territories ll 
These birds occurred as isolated pairs or singles mostly in a muskeg type 
habitat. 
Other animals and birds seen included 13 moose, 1] bear, 7 wolves, 4 foxes, 
2 snowy owls, and 319 ptarmigan. ; 
While no counts were kept of seals or white whales, it should be mentioned 
that on the flat ice fields still remaining in Button Bay and east of Churchill several 
hundred seals were observed. In Churchill Harbor, white whales were present by 
the hundreds. 
