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Reindeer in North America

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Reindeer in North America Rangelands2(3), June 1980 91 Reindeer in North America 0. Morris Blaylock The United States of America (USA) purchasedthe Terri- Other introductions of reindeer into Canada were not so tory of Alaska from the largest country in the world, the successful. Recently a small reindeer herd has been intro- Union of SovietSocialist Republics(USSR) in 1867. Almost a duced to the Belcher Islands, Canada. third of Alaska is north of the Arctic Circle. This area was Similar to the stock market crash in the United States of considered worthless at the time of purchase. America in the "Dirty" thirties, so crashed the reindeer Canada is the second largestcountry in theworld and has population in Alaska. The numbers of reindeer in domestic more mainland north of theArctic Circle than Alaska. It also herds have varied from thirty to forty thousand head in the has many large islands north of the Arctic Circle whichare last several years. Why did the Alaska reindeer population predominantly tundra. The tundra blankets the coastal crash? Somesaid it was over-grazing,others blamed losses regions of westernand northern Alaska,the northern part of to predators, lack of herding, blizzards with crusting snow, the mainlandof Canada and its Arctic Islands.The tundra is a killing improper numbers of the wrong sex, and other treeless area. The long, cold winters and low precipitation reasons—in other words, inefficient range and livestock prevent trees from growing in this plant zone, but some management. sections of tundra have large meadows.Grasses and sedges In 1975, the estimated numbers of caribou in Alaskawere cover the meadows. Other plants growing there are dande- 330,000 in addition to an estimated 35,000 reindeer. The lions, poppies, and wall flowers along with heather,fern and number ofcaribou that grazed in both Alaskaand the Yukon lichens. Joining the tundra on the east and south are boreal Province of Canadawas estimatedat 120,000. It was further forests. These northern forests comprise an arealarger than estimated that 574,000 caribou grazed in other parts of Can- the tundra in both Canadaand Alaska. The wooded interior ada. The present number of reindeer in Canada is about has different plant communities, which consist of shrubs, 8,000. trees, grasses, sedges,mosses, and lichens. The plant com- The Reindeer Act was passed by the United States Con- munities blend from one type to another depending on the gress on February1, 1937. ThisAct restricted privateowner- soil, moisture, altitude, and exposure. ship of reindeer in Alaska to Alaska natives. Ownership of Both Alaska and Canada support large herds of caribou reindeer should be allowed toall residentcitizens of Alaskaif (kaf-uh-boo), the Fench-Canadian name for the wild rein- the reindeer industry there is to expand. deerof North America. Domestic reindeer were introduced Efforts have been madeto revitalizethe industry in spite of into western Alaska between 1891 and 1902from Siberia to all the natural and man-made problems. In the late 1960's replacethe depletedsea mammal food items which had been some things were done to identify some of the problemsand the main diet of the coastal natives. The sea mammalswere to stimulate growth of the reindeer industry in Alaska. depleted by whalers and hunters of furbearing animals.The introduction of the 1,280 live reindeer near Teller, Alaska, was mainly through the efforts of Dr. Sheldon Jackson, a turn-of-the-century Colorado Rocky Mountain pioneer,who was interested in Alaska. Four Siberians were brought with the reindeer to aid in their care, but after a short stay they returned home. Seventy-three Lapp reindeer husbandmen were then brought to Alaskato give technical assistanceto thereindeer industry and help with the transition from a sea-cultureto a pastoral way of life. Descendentsof the Lapp husbandmen live in many different areasof Alaska. Some Lapp descend- ents are the best bush pilots in North America. Alaska rein- deer numbers steadily increasedto over 600,000 by 1932. In 1935, the Lomen Reindeer Company delivered 2,382 rein- deer to the Canadian Governmenton the Mackenzie River delta. This herd establishment was considered a success. The author is a retired range conservationistfrom the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Flagstaff.Ariz. A few years back he spent nearly 6 years in Alaskaas marketingspecialist and animal husbandman for the BIA there. Editor's Note: Temperateand warm climate dwellers will be happy to know that borealcomes from Boreas, Greek mythology, meaninggod of the north wind. Thus, boreal meansrelating to, or growing in northern regions. Winter reindeer herders' camp, Hagemeister Island, Alaska, 92 Rangelands 2(3), June 1980 Brucella.free herd male selected meat replacement for type and Nunivak weight by age. Island, AK, reindeerherders were takento/n/and lake by f/oat plane, from there,they herdedreindeer to the Mekoryukvillage corrals for handling and slaughter. • Bruce/Ia suis was identified as the cause of undulant fever in a native child. This led to reindeer Brucellosis regional profit-making corporations and over 200 village testing and slaughter of suspects, a cooperative effort corporations. The corporation lands vary in size, shape,and between the United States Department of Agriculture suitability of use by man and animals. The desired use of (USDA) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). these lands may not be compatible with the desired use of land. The 1976 Act setthe for excellent • The of reindeer was determined from cross- adjoining stage range age a established the need for broad section of the animals' teeth. This was done in coopera- management planning, actions, planning, and implementation. Sound coordinated tion with the State of Alaska's Department of Fish and resource is a must in the cold desert northland. Game and B IA. management There is a definite need to produce more red meat from • USDA meat inspection of reindeer slaughter in Alaska grazing resources.The presentand predicted prices of ham- was initiated in cooperation with USDA and BIA. burger meatclearly indicatethe need.As the humanpopula- • Warble fly control research was initiated with BIA, tion increases in the cold regions of North America so USDA, and State of Alaska cooperating. Over 900 fly increases the need to produce red meat in those regions. the larvae (grubs) were found under one slaughteredreindeer The pig of the north, "reindeer," and the wild boar of hide. Insecticides were tested by adding to salt-mineral tundra, "caribou," both have a place in the managementof blocks and as injectables. the tundra and boreal forest of North America, but research is needed for both and increasedmeat • Colorado State and BIA determinedsome of range management University production from this grazing resource in the northland. the effects of and sex on ofreindeer meat. age palatability The experienced herder is the most important link in the The following was done by BIA: managementchain of meatproduction and grazing manage- • Improved stunning methods for preparation for ment on the tundra and inthe borealforest ofNorth America. slaughter. He or she must be on the job during times of hard crusted snow or excessive snow. For the herdersto dotheir • Selected herd replacementsby weight and type. deep job they must have the best transportation and communication. • Reducedreindeer herd on Nunivak Island, Alaska. The reindeer is seldom used as a beast of burden in North • Establisheda new herd on HagemeisterIsland, Alaska. America (except for SantaClaus) so theherder's transporta- • better and tion consists of airplanes, dog teams, boats, and snow Improved product through processing mobiles. can be with skis to land packaging. Airplanes equipped on ice • or snow, with floatsto land on water and with wheelsto land Improved marketing from hoofs to antlers. on airports or back country landing strips. The main grazing competitor of reindeer on the tundra is Considerationshould also begiven to gameranching with the wild caribou. From the grazing-management point of muskox, buffalo, moose, otherbig gameand gameand live- view the reindeer is more desirable.Reindeer grazing can be stock (yak) crosses (reindeer and caribou). Whatever manipulated and numbers can be controlled. Control and grazing animal is chosen for the north, thegrazing should be prevention of diseases and parasitescan bedone easierwith compatible with the vegetative types. reindeer than caribou. The most compatible and controlled The potential production and harvestof red meat from the use of the tundra and boreal forest grazing resouce can be North American tundra and boreal forest is many times the done with reindeer. present production. Increased input in range,livestock, and Two recent laws thatwill affect the Alaskareindeer indus- wildlife managementcan bring about the needed increaseof try are the"Alaska NativeClaims SettlementAct of 1971" and meat production from the arctic grazing lands. Then the the "Federal Land Policy and ManagementAct of 1976."The reindeer will play an important roll in the increased 1971 Act granted some 44 millionacres of Alaskato twelve production. .
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