272 Alaskan Science Conference 



regulations, patrol and protection is flexible enough to meet 

 such drastic changes without some hardship and turmoil. 



The Nelchina caribou are an example of a more or less resi- 

 dent herd that remains in a definite area the year around. This 

 tendency simplifies greatly the broad management practices of 

 protection from predators and regulation of the take. 



Why do caribou migrate? And what determines the time and 

 route? Why do some herds follow a pattern while others appear 

 completely erratic in their movements? And why do still others 

 not migrate at all? Do caribou always move into the prevailing 

 wind? Or is it lack of food or harassment by wolves that starts 

 the herd moving? What of the influence of insect pests or the 

 disturbance by man? Has highway or railroad construction 

 been a factor in changing migration routes? And what of the 

 effect of the airplane? Or is the answer not to be found in ex- 

 ternal factors but instead in a temperature change or some other 

 stimulus affecting the internal physiology of the animal? 



We now have information on the approximate caribou popu- 

 lation, the kill by licensed hunters and the winter foods. Also 

 the effect of tundra fires on the caribou range is known. Beyond 

 that a great many answers are needed before intelligent man- 

 agement of caribou becomes a reality. 



Obviously neither time nor the caribou will stand still until 

 all the answers are in. The present caribou surveys are financed 

 by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration funds with active co- 

 operation from several agencies maintaining field parties in the 

 caribou country such as the Geological Survey, Arctic Institute, 

 Public Health Service, the Air Force, the Navy and the Alaska 

 Native Service. New measures adopted as a result of the find- 

 ings to date include: closure of the Mt. Sanford area to hunting 

 in order to protect a remnant herd, more liberal bag limits 

 north of the Arctic circle, and intensive predator control on 

 the Nelchina range. 



Sea Otter 



The original sea otter ranee in Alaska included all of the 

 North Pacific coast and islands and extended in Bering Sea 



