FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, I914. II7 



THE REINDEER. 



INTRODUCTION AND GROWTH OF HERD. 



For some years the Department of the Interior, in connection with its work on the 

 education of the natives of Alaska, has maintained large herds of domesticated reindeer 

 at various points on the mainland. These herds have prospered and from time to time 

 have been drawn upon to stock other places, including several islands in the Aleutian 

 chain and elsewhere. 



In the course of a study of the economic resources of the Pribilof Islands it was seen 

 that they afforded a quantity of food suitable for reindeer and it was believed that 

 utilizing this product to maintain herds of these useful animals would be a wise proce- 

 dure. Accordingly arrangements were effected with the Department of the Interior for 

 the transfer of enough of the animals to start a herd on each island. By the cooperation 

 of the Revenue-Cutter Service, 40 animals were brought to the islands at the end of 

 August, 191 1. Twenty-five of these, 21 does and 4 bucks, were landed on St. Paul on 

 August 31, and the remaining 15 — 12 does and 3 bucks — were put on St. George on Sep- 

 tember I. Practically all the animals were of breeding age. There has been little 

 mortality and both herds have shown a good percentage of increase. 



In the spring of 191 2 the vSt. Paul herd produced 17 fawns and had suffered the loss 

 of only 2 of the original herd, a male and a female. In the spring of 1913 18 fawns were 

 bom, and in 1914 25 were produced. The mortality has continued to be small, and the 

 herd on St. Paul in the summer of 1914 numbered about 75 animals. All seemed to be 

 healthy with the exception of 2 of the older males, which were lame and seemed to be 

 suffering from some trouble of the feet. This is probably the same disease that has 

 occasionally occurred among the herds on the mainland. The exact nature and cause 

 of this disease does not appear to be well known. The animals are said to recover occa- 

 sionally, but it would seem best to kill the animals now affected, since they are consuming 

 food which will be needed for the healthy animals and they are not needed for the growth 

 of the herd. 



The animals on St. George also are in good condition. In spite of the fact that the 

 oldest buck disappeared soon after the animals were landed, 1 1 of the 12 females produced 

 fawns in the spring of 1912. In the spring of 191 3, according to the report from the island, 

 15 fawns were bom. This would mean that some of the young only i year old produced 

 fawns. Of those bora, 13 survived the summer. In 1914 21 young were produced, 

 and the herd numbered 58 animals. The total number now on both islands therefore is 

 slightly more than 150. 



The reindeer on both islands keep rather closely to the higher, less frequented parts, 

 where they are seldom disturbed and where their favorite food is most abundant. The 

 animals of course require no feeding and no special care except at fawning time, but 

 in order that they may not become too wild to be easily handled, they should be frequently 

 visited and rounded up. In no other way can they be kept under observation and their 

 actual condition be known. At fawning time some special care and attention is necessary 

 to prevent undue loss of the newly born young. On St. Paul the females are driven into 

 a corral for the fawning. This prevents the desertion of the young ones by their mothers, 

 which often occurs during the prevalence of hard storms, and which results in heavy 

 mortality. The newly born young are also in some danger from the old bucks. 



