52 BULLETIlSr 1089, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. \ 



fodder except what they pick up as they go along ; they can traverse 

 boggy ground in which a horse would mire ; their feet do not have to 

 be shod ; and, finally, when they are no longer required for packing 

 they may be slaughtered for food. It is surprising that so little use 

 has been made in Alaska of the reindeer as a pack animal. Doubtless 

 the principal reason is that few animals are broken for this purpose 

 and that little effort has been made to supply the demand. 



As regards the weight that a full grown reindeer may support on 

 its back, the reader's attention is called to Plate XX, Figure 2, in 

 which a heavy man is seen astride a reindeer. In Siberia Bertholf 

 saw Tungusic reindeer commonly used as riding animals ; he says that 

 some of them are capable of supporting a 200-pound man. 



PREDATORY ANIMAL ENEMIES. 



The predatory animals that attack reindeer in Alaska are chiefly 

 bears, wolves, lynxes, wolverenes, and eagles. Their depredations are 

 greater in the interior than on the coast, but while important they are 

 not extensive. Bears are the most numerous and destructive enemy. 

 Only a relatively few wolves, lynxes, and wolverenes now remain 

 along the coasts of Bering Sea or the Arctic Ocean ; consequently the 

 losses from predatory animals there are comparatively small, but in 

 the interior they become more of a factor. Eagles are largely in the 

 interior and are especially destructive to fawns. It is reported that 

 in Lapland the herders must stay continuously with their reindeer 

 during the night to ward off depredations by wolves, but on the 

 ranges used in Alaska up to this time night herding to keep off pred- 

 atory animals is rarely necessary. 



INJURIES AND DISEASES OF REINDEER. 



Reindeer have generally been considered to be very healthy ani- 

 mals, and though our observations substantiate this to a great extent, 

 there are many minor ailments and parasitic diseases which are tak- 

 ing their toll from the herds. No serious epizootic or contagious; 

 diseases have been encountered. In Europe it is said that epizootics 

 ravage the herds occasionally, but in Alaska there are no records of 

 any large numbers of reindeer dying suddenly. The deaths which do 

 occur come one or two at a time, and the herds have their ups and 

 downs like cattle or sheep. 



In the following paragraphs the diseases will be dealt with under i 

 separate heads; treatment and methods of prevention are indicated: 

 wherever possible. It will be noticed that some stress has been laid 

 on the slaughter of all animals likely to convey disease to others. 

 Isolatioil might be equally effective in some cases, but can not be 

 recommended, as there are no facilities at the reindeer camx^s for such 



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