30 



BULLETIN 1423, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGBICULTURE 



The clama<re to lichen ran<ie is particuhirly serious. It may take a 

 burned-over lichen area as much as 2.") years to come back; or where 

 so badly burned that the cover of humus is destroyed, the chan<j;ed 

 site conditions may result in a recovered stand of inferior species, 

 or virtually in a permanent removal of tlie lichens, so far as practical 

 grazing use is concerned. In view of the importance of the lichen 

 areas for winter grazing, it is vital to all reindeer men to guard 

 against fires; and because of tlie damage to game and fur animals 

 and to tree growth, it is the concern of everyone that fires be pre- 

 vented and fire protection sought. 



CARRYING CAPACITY OF RANGE 



WINTER REQUIREMENTS 



Brief studies of carrying capacity conducted on a range in the 

 Xorton Sound section indicate a requirement of 30 acres for each 

 reindeer for the yearlong period. This, however, does not allow for 

 a recovery period for the lichen areas under full cropping; conse- 

 quently, a higlier yearlong acreage must be allowed. For the six 

 months of summer grazing, 10 to 15 acres a head are required, and 

 in some cases 8 acres, but for winter grazing on lichen forage the 

 requirement is much higher for proper range u.se and protection. 

 As regards carrying capacity generally, winter grazing requires a 

 lar<rer acreage than suimner for a number of reasons : 



First, the lichens wliich constitute the prmci[)al winter food are, 

 as mentioned, wholly different from the herbaceous vegetation mak- 

 ing up the sunnner forage, in nature, habits of growth, and reaction 

 to injury. By reason of these differences greater care must be taken 

 in grazing lichen areas to avoid total destruction of the individual 

 plants or checking their continued healthy growth and reproduc- 

 tion. 



In the second place, the inland winter areas and top country gen- 

 erally are not so well coveied with vegetation as the sunnner areas 

 adjacent to tlie coast or lying along the lower foothills. Much of 

 this top country may be almost barren in jilaces. or the lichen growth 

 of patchy occurrence. In some cases only a third or a half of the 

 total winter range may be available for grazing use. The average 

 summer range, on the other hand, is usually of full cover and the 

 total acreage is available for grazing. Thus an increased acreage 

 is recpiired for winter grazing to provide sufficient forage. 



Further, reindeer graze more quietly over a smaller area in winter 

 than in summer, and remain for the most part in one general local- 

 ity. This means closer utilization and greater danger of overgraz- 

 ing. To offset this and to guard against ovei'use. a larger acreage 

 must be pi'ovided to ])ut into effect a scheme of deferred and rota- 

 t ion gi'azing. 



All thiee factors, then. ])()int to the necessity of a larger acreage 

 r('(|nirement under winter gi'azing. although the second factor may 

 result in considei'able variation in the final estimate given as between 

 different localities. 



CARRYING CAPACITY ESTIMATES 



For the reindeer ranges, as now known, a carrying capacity of 10 

 or 15 acres a head is indicated for summer grazing i)lus 'M) to 45 



