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Game Transplants in Alaska

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Game Transplants in Alaska Game Transplants in Alaska Alaska in in Transplants Transplants Game Game Game Transplants in Alaska TechnicAl BulleTin # 4 4 # # BulleTin BulleTin TechnicAl TechnicAl TechnicAl BulleTin # 4 Second edition edition Second Second Second edition ThomAS W. PAul PAul W. W. ThomAS ThomAS ThomAS W. PAul This document incorporates text and information from the first edition edition first first the the from from information information and and text text incorporates incorporates document document This This This document incorporates text and information from the first edition by Oliver E. Burris and Donald E. McKnight 1973 1973 McKnight McKnight E. E. Donald Donald and and Burris Burris E. E. Oliver Oliver by by by Oliver E. Burris and Donald E. McKnight 1973 ©2009 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Game and and Fish Fish of of Department Department Alaska Alaska ©2009 ©2009 ©2009 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Any information taken from this report should be cited with credit given to the author and the the the and and author author the the to to given given credit credit with with cited cited be be should should report report this this from from taken taken information information AnyAny Any information taken from this report should be cited with credit given to the author and the t as follows: follows: follows: as as t t repor repor this this reference reference Please Please Game. Game. and and Fish Fish of of Department Department AlaskaAlaska Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Please reference this report as follows: PAul, T. W. 2009. Game transplants in Alaska. Technical bulletin No. 4, second edition. edition. edition. second second 4, 4, No. No. bulletin bulletin Technical Technical Alaska. Alaska. in in transplants transplants Game Game 2009. 2009. W. W. T. T. PAul,PAul, PAul, T. W. 2009. Game transplants in Alaska. Technical bulletin No. 4, second edition. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Juneau, Alaska. 150pp. 150pp. Alaska. Alaska. Juneau, Juneau, Game. Game. and and Fish Fish of of Department Department AlaskaAlaska Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Juneau, Alaska. 150pp. AlASkA DePArTmenT of fiSh AnD GAme GAme AnD AnD fiSh fiSh of of DePArTmenT DePArTmenT AlASkA AlASkA AlASkA DePArTmenT of fiSh AnD GAme DiviSion of WilDlife conServATion conServATion WilDlife WilDlife of of DiviSion DiviSion DiviSion of WilDlife conServATion SePTemBer 2009 2009 SePTemBer SePTemBer SePTemBer 2009 Game Transplants in Alaska TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 4 Second Edition THOMAS W. PAUL This document incorporates text and information from the first edition by Oliver E. Burris and Donald E. McKnight 1973 ©2009 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Any information taken from this report should be cited with credit given to the author and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Please reference this report as follows: PAUL, T. W. 2009. Game transplants in Alaska. Technical bulletin No. 4, second edition. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Juneau, Alaska. 150pp. ALASKA DEpaRTMENT OF FISH AND GAME DIVISION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVatION SEPTEMBER 2009 STATE OF ALASKA Sean Parnell, Governor DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME Denby Lloyd, Commissioner DIVISION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Doug Larsen, Director For a hard copy of this report please direct requests to our publications specialist: Publications Specialist ADF&G, Wildlife Conservation P.O. Box 115526 Juneau, AK 99811-5526 (907) 465-4176 [email protected] The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) administers all programs and activities free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. The department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility please write: • ADF&G ADA Coordinator, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526 • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042, Arlington, VA 22203 • Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW MS 5230, Washington DC 20240. The department’s ADA Coordinator can be reached via phone at the following numbers: (VOICE) 907-465-6077; (Statewide Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) 1-800-478-3648; (Juneau TDD) 907-465-3646; (FAX) 907- 465-6078. For information on alternative formats and questions on this publication, please contact the following: Publications Specialist, ADF&G/Division of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526, or call 907- 465-4176. Product names used in this publication are included for scientific completeness but do not constitute product endorsement. Cover photos are (from left) of caribou (see page 87), deer (see page 9), and mountain goat (see page 22) transplant operations. Photos (from left) by Ted Spraker, William Hanlon, and Kent Bovee. MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Game transplants in Alaska have increased hunting opportunity, resulted in more food for Alaskans, affected Alaska’s environment, and created some interesting history. In 1973, Bud Burris and Don McKnight wrote the first edition of Game Transplants in Alaska, covering efforts that occurred from before statehood until that time. Much has happened since then, which is why I asked Tom Paul to update their report. It is important to document transplant efforts, to understand what makes them work well and how to avoid identified pitfalls in future efforts. Paul’s report provides a substantial look at both successful and unsuccessful efforts, and the benefits, challenges, and consequences of moving animals from one place to another. He accomplishes this while relating some good stories of biologists and community helpers exercising their ingenuity. While introductions of wildlife to previously uninhabited areas can benefit both the species and people, great care must be taken to avoid negative impacts to those introduced animals or existing indigenous species. This new edition details how the attitudes toward and techniques used to accomplish game transplants have changed through the years. Importantly, a new transplant policy, adopted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game since the first edition of this report, set strict guidelines for wildlife transplants. I have personal experience with this topic. As an area wildlife biologist living and working in Ketchikan during the 1990s, I had the opportunity to oversee the introduction of mountain goats to Deer Mountain on Revillagigedo Island. Efforts were made beforehand to assess habitats and ecological implications. As with other introductions, time will tell whether our assessment was sufficiently thorough and accurate. In the meanwhile, that introduction, like others, has provided new hunting and viewing opportunities for Alaskans and visitors alike. While the Revillagigedo introduction met the department’s standards, a subsequent proposal to introduce mountain goats to Prince of Wales Island was rejected by the department after an ecological assessment determined there was insufficient wintering and escape habitat to support a viable population of goats on that island. We need to be ready to support wildlife transplants where they are appropriate and reject them where they are not. As you read this publication, I hope you will reflect both on the positive aspects and inherent risks associated with transplants. It remains my hope that introductions and reintroductions of wildlife in Alaska, undertaken with appropriate care, will provide positive benefits to the species, to Alaskans, and to all who visit our state. I hope too that the information presented in this new edition of Game Transplants of Alaska will help biologists and others steer a course to positive results from any future wildlife transplant operations. —Doug Larsen, Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation September 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������x EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ xi INTRODUCTION ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1 ALASKA TRANSPLANT OBJECTIVES ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������5 BIG GAME TRANSPLANTS ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9 Sitka Black-tailed Deer ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9 Mountain Goat �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������16 Elk ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������33 Bison ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������44 Muskox ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������55 Moose ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������69
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