Caribou are a major arctic herbivore. Because the province lies above the Arctic Circle, it gets several days of 24-hr sunlight in June, and several sunless days in December. It consists chiefly of low mats of such herbaceous and shrubby species as dwarf arctic birch, crowberry, Labrador-tea, arctic willow, resin birch, and dwarf blueberry. Areas at lower elevations may be covered by a mat of sedge and shrub that provides valuable forage for caribou. Cottongrass, bluejoint, mosses, dwarf willow, dwarf birch, Labrador-tea, and bistort are common.
Soils are rocky and poorly developed.
Inceptisols cover the lower slopes. Glacial and alluvial deposits occur in the valleys and at the base of the mountain slopes. Permafrost is continuous under the entire area. Smaller mammals include marmot, red and arctic fox, ground squirrel, lemming, and pika. The Brooks Range is an important resting area for migrating waterfowl and songbirds during summer.