The Refuge coastal plain is very important to calving success and calf survival in the Porcupine caribou herd. There are two main reasons for this. First, fewer brown bears, wolves, and golden eagles live on the coastal plain than in the adjacent foothills and mountains. As a result, the newborn calves have a better chance to survive their first week, until they become strong enough to outrun their pursuers. The Refuge coastal plain also provides an abundance of plant species preferred by caribou.
Nutrition is very important to the pregnant cows, particularly after the long winter.
This gives the new mothers access to the most nutritious food when it is most important for their health and the proper development of nursing calves. The entire Porcupine caribou herd and up to a third of the Central Arctic herd use the Refuge coastal plain when calving is completed. This essential area contains forage and a variety of habitats that provide insect relief, including the coast, uplands, ice fields, rocky slopes, and gravel bars. Their annual visit to the Refuge coastal plain brings new life and vitality to the caribou. It is an important part of their life cycle.