20 BrLLETIX 1089, U, S. DEPAETMEXT OE AGEICTLTrEE. 



have been is only partially true. Caribou are not herded, but roa: 

 at "^ill. By traveling in small bands and covering much territoi 

 they thrive on small moss areas and a certain amount of timb( 

 vegetation. A reindeer lierder vould have a hard time attemp 

 ing to utilize some of these ranges. He might do so in some cas 

 perhaps by adopting the nomadic mode of existence of the Lap] 

 of northern Norway and Sweden. In the large timbered areas 

 the interior it is unlikely that a reindeer herd could be handle 

 without considerable fencing. Grazing could be carried on succes 

 fully, however, wherever there is suitable forage and an area lar^ 

 enough to accommodate a reindeer herd the year round. 



An accurate statement of the possible future carrying capacity <; 

 Alaska for reindeer grazing can not be given until a complete ranj 

 reconnaissance has been made. Judging from a very general pr 

 liminary survey of the field as a whole, there are probably betwee 

 150,000 and 200,000 square miles of open grazing lands availabl 

 This area is estimated to be capable of supporting between 3,000,0( 

 and 4,000,000 reindeer. The estimate includes all potential range. 

 on the islands, along the coast, and in the interior. Development ( 

 some of these ranges for grazing, particularly in the interior, wi 

 probably come only with a greater development of transportatic 

 facilities, particularly roads. The immediate coastal areas and the: 

 along navigable rivers and the Alaska railroad will undoubtedly I 

 developed in the near future (Fig. 1). j 



1 



RANGE SUITABLE FOR REINDEER. 



The suitability of range for reindeer depends principally upc 

 climate and forage and to some extent upon character of site. Tl 

 natural habitat of the reindeer is in the arctic and subarctic region 

 and the animals will undoubtedly do best on ranges falling withi 

 these climatic zones. Whether they can be grazed successful] 

 farther south is not definitely known, but is a matter for experiment! 

 tion, Michigan is now (1922) undertaking the experiment and tl 

 results will be awaited with interest. 



Eeindeer on the range most closely resemble cattle, but band tt 

 gether more like sheep, and like the horse they tramj)le over muc 

 range in nervous feeding, but. unlike the horse, they travel again) 

 the wind. In winter they paw through the snow with the fore fei 

 to reach lichens and other forage (PI. X. figs. 1 and 2). Durin 

 the summer they move about over the range a great deal, and at time 

 cover considerable distances against the wind. In winter they gra; 

 more quietly over a comparatively small area, and remain mainly i 

 one general locality. At fawning time the herd divides, the dot 

 grouping by themselves and the bucks, steers, and some of the yea] 

 lings banding together elsewhere. 



1 



