NORTH AMERICAN FAUNAS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 1935 - 1938 -o-o- CONTENTS No. 54· Alaska-Yukon caribou. Ey Olaus J* llurie* 93 p., illus. 1955· 55# The mammals and life zones of Oregon* 3y Vernon Bailey* 416 p«, illus* 1936· 56· Revision of the North Amerioan ground squirrels* By Arthur H* Howell* 256 ρ·, illus. 1938. LIBRARY, DEPT. OP THE INTERIOR NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA No. 54 ALASKA-YUKON CARIBOU By OLAUS J. MURIE Biologist, Division of Wildlife Research Bureau of Biological Survey Issued by UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON. D. C. JUNE 193 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA No. 54 issued by the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY Washington, D. C. June 1935 ALASKA-YUKON CARIBOU By OLAUS J- MUBIE, Biologist, Division of Wildlife Research CONTENTS Page Page The caribou in relation to man 1 Food habits—Continued. The present study- 4 Consumption of shod antlers and velvet... 42 Status and abundance of caribou.. 6 Other food habits 43 Limitations on abundance 7 The migratory habit 43 General description of the caribou. 11 The caribou In migration -. - 43 Size and weight --- 12 Explanation of the migratory habit - -. 45 Pelage- 14 Habitat — 60 Antlers.:.— — 17 The caribou a mountain animal 60 Teeth -- 27 Physical features of Alaska .- 52 Sight - 27 Climate-.- --- 63 Scent - - 27 Vegetati on. - 64 Hearing..- - 28 Distribution and migration of herds 66 General habits and temperament.. 28 Alaska Peninsula herds — --- 67 Behavior in danger - 28 Bering seacoast herds.. - 60 Curiosity -- - 32 Alaska Range herds 61 Communication 32 Northern herds 63 Gait —- 33 Yukon-Tanana herds.— 69 Swimming — 34 Taxonomic status of Alaska-Yukon caribou.. 73 Breeding habits 34 Rangifer arcticus 74 Fawns 35 Rangifer arcticus stonei. —- 76 Food habits 36 Rangifer arcticus granti 80 Importance of lichens Rangifer arcticus osborni 81 Year-round food - -• Caribou of British Columbia and Alberta... 83 Winter food — Bibliography - - 83 Spring feeding -- Index 91 Rummer and fall feeding THE CARIBOU IN RELATION TO MAN The American people, becoming more aware of their heritage in the North, are visiting Alaska in increasing numbers—as sportsmen, as tourists, as prospective settlers. Important among the attrac­ tions to the wilderness portions of the Territory are the wandering caribou herds. Though from the standpoint of the hunter the cari­ bou is a stupid animal and easily stalked, it is picturesque, interest­ ing in its ways, and enveloped in mystery as it wanders over its subarctic ranges. Not only does the visiting sportsman find more pleasure in his excursions into these northern game lands because of the presence of the caribou herds, but great opportunities are also offered one who carries a camera. In the early exploration of Alaska the caribou made existence possible in regions where it would have been hard to survive other­ wise. Mining camps and prospectors have found the caribou a god- 100902°—35 1 1 PUBLICATIONS in the NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA SERIES Copies of the North American Fauna not out of print are for sale, at the prices named, by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. Numbers marked with an asterisk [*] are out of print. •No. 1. Revision of the North American Pocket •No. 15. Revision of the Jumping Mice of the Mice. By C. HART MERRIAM. Genus Zapus. By EDWARD A. PREBLE. Pp.36, pis.4. 1889. Pp.42, pl.l, flgs.4. 1899. *No. 2. Descriptions of Fourteen New Species and •No. 16. Results of a Biological Survey of Mount One New Genus of North American Mammals. Shasta, California. By C. HART MERRIAM. By C. HART MERRIAM. Pp. 179, pis. 5, flgs. 46. 1899. Pp. 52, pis. 8, flgs. 7. 1889. •No. 17. Revision of American Voles of the Genus •No. 3. Results of a Biological Survey of the San Microtus. By VERNON BAILEY. Francisco Mountain Region and Desert of the Pp.88, pis.5, flgs. 17. 1900. Little Colorado, Arizona. By C. HART MERRIAM and LEONHARD STEJNEGER. •No. IS. Revision of the Pocket Mice of the Genus Pp. 136, pis. 14, maps 5 (colored), figs. 2. 1890. Perognathus. By WILFRED H. OSGOOD. Pp. 72, pis. 4 (incl. 2 maps), flgs. 15. 1900. *No. 4. Descriptions of Twenty-six New Species of •No. 10. Results of a Biological Reconnolssance North American Mammals. By C. HART MERRIAM. of the Yukon Region; General Account of the Pp. 60, pis. 3, flgs. 3. 1890. Region. Annotated List of Mammals, by WIL­ •No. 5. Results of a Biological Reconnolssance of FRED 11. OSGOOD. Annotated List of Eirds, by South-central Idaho. By C. HART MERRIAM and LOUIS B. BISHOP. LEONHARD STEJNEGER. Descriptions of a New Ge­ Pp. 100, pis. 7 (incl. 1 map). 1900. nus and Two New Species of North American Mammals. By C. HART MERRIAM. *No. SO. Revision of the Skunks of the Genus Pp. 132, pis. 4 (1 colored), flgs. 4. 1891. Chlncha {Mephitis}. By ARTHUR H. HOWELL. Pp.62, pis.8. 1901. No. 6. Not issued. •No. 21. Natural History of the Queen Charlotte •No. 7. The Death Valley Expedition: A Biological Islands, Eritish Columbia; and Natural History Survey of Parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, of the Cook Inlet Region, Alaska. By WILFRED and Utah. Part II: 1. Birds, by A. K. FISHER. Π. OSGOOD. 2. Reptiles and Batrachians, by LEONHARD STEJ­ NEGER. 3. Fishes, by CHARLES II. GILBERT. 4. In­ Pp.87, pis.7 (incl. 1 map), fig. (map), loot. sects, by C. V. PVILET. 5. Mollusks, by R. E. C. •No. 22. A Biological Investigation of the Hudson STEARNS, β. Desert Trees and Shrubs, by 0. HART Bay Region. By EDWARD A. PREBLE. MERRIAM. 7. Desert Cactuses and Yuccas, by Pp. 140, pis. 14 (incl. 1 map). 1902. C. HART MERRIAM. 8. List of Localities, by T. S. PALMER. •No. 23. Index Generum Mammailura: A List of Pp.40C, pis. 15, maps 5, flgs. 2. 1893. the Genera and Families of Mammals. By T. S. PALMER. •No. 8. Monographic Revision of the Pocket Go­ Pp.984. 1904. phers, Family Geomyidae (exclusive of the species of Thomomys). By C. HART MERRIAM. •No. 24. A Biological Reconnaissance of the Base Pp.258, pis.20, flgs.71, maps4 (colored). 1895. of the Alaska Penlnsuia. By WILFRED II. OSGOOD. Pp. 86, pis. 7 (incl. 2 maps). 1904. No. Θ. Not issued. •No. 25. Biological Survey of Texas: Life Zones, •No. 10. Revision of the Shrews of the American with Characteristic Species of Mammr.'s, Birds, Genera Blarlnaand Notiosorex. By C. HART MER­ Reptiles, and Plants. By VERNON BAILS Ϊ. RIAM. The Long-tailed Shrews of the Eastern Pp. 222, pis. 16 (incl.6 maps), flgs. 24 (incl. 16 maps). United States. By GERRIT 8. MILLER, Jr. Synopsis 1905. of the American Shrews of the Genus Sorex. By C. HART MERRIAM. •No. 26. Revision cf the Skunks of the Genus Pp. 124, pis. 12, figs. 3. 1895. Spiiogale. By ARTHUR H. HOWELL. Pp. 55, pis. 10 (incl. 1 map). 1906. •No. 11. Synopsis of the Weasels of North Amer­ ica. By C. HART MERRIAM. No. 27. A Biological Investigation of the Atha- Pp.44, pis.6, figs. 16. 1896. baska-Mackenzle Region. By EDWARD A. PREBLE. Pp.574, pis.25 (incl.4 maps), flgs. 16. 1908. Price •No. 12. The Genera and Subgenera of Voles and $1.25. Lemmings. By GERRIT S. MILLER, Jr. Pp. 84, pis. 3, flgs. 40. 1896. •No. 28. Revision of the Mice of the American Genus Peromyscus. By WILFRED K. OSGOOD. •No. 13. Revision of the North American Bats Pp. 285, pis.8 (incl. 1 map), flgs. 12 (maps). 1909. of the Family Vespertilionldac. By GERRIT S. MILLER, Jr. •No. 29. The Rabbits of North America. By E. Pp.140, pis. 3, flgs. 40. 1897. W. NELSON. Pp. 314, pis. 13, flgs. 19 (incl. 16 maps). 1909. •No. 14. Natural History of the Tres Marias Islands, Mexico: General Account of the Islands •No. 30. Biological Investigations In Alaska and Yukon Territory: 1. East-central Alaska; 2. with Reports on Mammals and Birds, by E. W. Ogllvle Range, Yukon; 3. Macmilian River, NELSON. Reptiles, by LEONHARD STEJNEGER. Notes Yukon. By WILFRED H. OSGOOD. on Crustacea, by MART J. RATHBUN. Plants, by Pp. 96, pis. 5 (1 map), figs. 2 (maps). 1909. J. N. ROSE. Bibliography, by E. W. NELSON. Pp.97, pi. (map), figs.2. 1899. (Continued on page 3 of cover.) North American Fauna No. 54, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Biological Survey PLATE I B21748; B21795 A, Spruce tree trimmed by Indians for a look-out. in spying caribou. B, An Indian look-out at Kechumstuk (all poles are fastened by willow withes). North American Fauna No. 54, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Biological Survey PLATE 2 B21785; B21791; B21793 A. Section of an old caribou snare fence held together by willow withes. B, Old caribou corral, partly broken down. C, One side of caribou corral at Kechumstuk (long wing fences guided the animals into the enclosure). 2 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA [No. 54 send, in the food it furnishes for both man and his indispensable dog. The caribou herds have meant to Alaskans what the bison meant to the early explorers and settlers of the Western States. To this day some mining camps depend largely on the caribou herds for fresh meat. As an accompaniment to this necessity market hunters made a business of supplying meat in the early days. Formerly in interior Alaska, where the population was scattered and caribou held their own under such practices, the sale of meat was justifiable. Conditions have changed, however, and market hunting, or sale of game, is now looked upon with disfavor.