ALASKA —
FOR YOUR
INFORMATION
Recent attempts at introducing Caribou to Adak, as veil as a hunting trip to
Atka by the US3'Quapaw have caused a certain amount ..of caribou consciousness..
However, there seems'to.be a slight confusion between caribou and reindeer. This
will probably serve to increase the confusion, though I hope not.
Caribou, an American .specie of the genus Rangifer (a large, arctic and, subarctic
deer) is characterized by tho possession of antlers of both sexes. The caribou
is so completely a..reindeer that there . seems to-be little practical reason for
separating it specifically from that of Europe, whence nc doubt it came by migra
tion in early Prehistoric time, it will be convenient, nevertheless, to .follow
the general practice and recognize two groups-the Arctic or Barren Grounds Caribou
(Rangifer Arctieus), and Woodland Caribou (Rangifer Caribou)
The" Woodland Caribou .inhabits the wooded parts of British America and the TJnit- -
ed States border from Maine to Minnesota® It is., larger than most varities of the
European reindeer, ana frecuc-hts' inarshy regions, but in sonp localities at least,
migrates.'nortnpnrd in winter in search of tree linemens and reindeer mess. . .
The Barrori Ground or &x£ic Caribou, a smaller species with larger antlers and
a weight ranging from 100-500 pounds, is found from Greenland to Alaska wherever
tundras, and a few plains exist north of the limit of tree growth, and on all ,the
islands of ..the Tolar sea. This is in summer, when herbage, springs up along coasts
and water Courses. r
As autumn approaches these caribou gather toward the south until huge herds ar§
brought together and travel south to tho horthom edges of the Canadian forests.
In spring they go north as soon as the snow permits. . ... ■
These sWii-apnual 'migrations; arc the harvest tines of the Eskimos and northern
Indians’. " however, the slaughter has been so inconsiderate that even on the Barren
Grounds these herds are now small and scattered as compared with a century ago,
and local famines are more end more suffered, or districts havo b...en abandoned by
the inhabitants in consequence.
In 1891 lb head of domestic reindeer from Siberia wore introduced into Alaska
for the benefit of the natives who frequently suffered for food and for purposes
of transportation. The experiment proved sc satisfactory that importations were
continued for 10 years. In '1858 a colony of Laplanders wore procured to train
the natives in the care of reindeer. In 1958 there were 700s000 reindeer in Alaska
but, there are only about 20,000 now. This drastic decline is attributed to de
plotion of winter ranges, increase of depredation by wolves, poor herding qnd
management practices, excessive butchering and loss from mixing with migratory
caribou herdds• , ;
An 1920 Congress made an appropriation and the Biological Survey is still in
vestigating and studing successful methods for the control of.parasites and diseas
es and experimenting by cross breeding with tho larger : caribou for superior moat
producers. By law, only natives nay own thorn. This animal : might again become
important in the economy of northwestern Alaska if the members could be increased.