INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC KKINDKKK INTO ALASKA. 117 



KEEN DEER AND CARIBOU. 



By C. C. Georgeson, M. S. 

 Special agent in charge oj Ahtihi Agricultural Experiment Stations, Office 0} Experiment 



Stations. 



[Reprint from Agriciiltiinil Report.] 



Tho reindeer of Europe and Asia and the caribou of America are 

 usually considered to belong to one and the same species, Bnngifer 

 tarandus, thouo;h some distinguished scientists recogiMze seven differ- 

 ent species. For the j)urposes of this article they may be considered 

 as one. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The reindeer constitutes one of the several genera into wliich the 

 deer famih' is divided, and, considered from the standpoint of its use- 

 fulness to man, it is by far the most important member of this family. 

 Its range in the wild state, though extensive, is confined to northern 

 latitudes. On the American continent it is found from the shores of 

 the Arctic Ocean along the Alaskan range, even below the boundary of 

 the United States in the west, and in the east through Labrador to New 

 Brunswick and Newfoundland, while on the plains it does not reach 

 down so far. In Newfoundland, which is as yet but thinly settled, and 

 the settlements located chiefly in the south and southeast portion of 

 the island, there are still large herds of caribou, which feed in summer 

 on the barren highlands of the north and in winter migrate to the 

 wooded districts in the south. Caribou, it is reported, are likewise 

 still found in the liilly districts of New Brunswick and adjoining dis- 

 tricts. In the interior of Alaska caribou is the most important game 

 animal, though it is rapidl}^ disappearing from the regions most fre- 

 cjuented by the prospector and miner. In the Kenai Peninsula cari- 

 bou are still found, but they are scarce. Its range is here almost 

 identical with that of the moose. Both occupy the woods in winter 

 and in summer both seek relief from mosquitoes b}' going to open 

 ground, the caribou seeking the mountains, while the moose is more 

 inclined to go to the grassy meadows along the seacoast to escape the 

 pest. In the interior of Alaska there are still large regions unexploited 

 where caribou are found in numbers, but they are scarce along the 

 trails. In fact, they are nowhere numerous, except in the foothills of 

 the range in which Mount McKinley is the principal i)eak. Small 

 herds are scattered all through the northern plains of the continent to 

 the Arctic Ocean. 



In Europe it is found in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, and 

 Russia in the same regions as the domestic reindeer. In the Scandi- 

 navian range it extends well down toward the south, and in Russia it 

 is said to be found throughout the whole length of the Ural Moun- 

 tains, but not in the Caucasus. It is likewise found throughout the 



