IMPROVED REINDEER HANDLING 



5 



a second sliding gate opens into a narrow V-shaped chute from 15 

 to 30 feet long. At the outer end of this is a swinging gate, and 

 opposite the gate a low platform fronted by a wall waist high. 



Where the herd is large and there is no fence for holding the 

 animals during the round-up period, a second corral attached to the 

 end of the chute becomes necessary. This corral should be about 

 the same size as the main one, or large enough to hold the number of 

 animals handled in any one day — 2,000 to 2,500 head. As fast as 

 the animals are handled they are turned into this corral to be held 

 until the day's work is completed. The bunch is then turned out 

 and driven far enough away to prevent its mixing with the main 

 herd or with those not yet marked. Some mixing, however, is bound 

 to take place when does seek their offspring or fawns their mothers. 

 Consequently, each animal as handled is marked with paint in order 

 to avoid recounting in case some mixing takes place. The animal is 

 given a daub of paint (yellow or green, for example) on its side 

 as it passes through the chute. As fawns are freshly ear-marked, 

 they need not be painted. Under this method, the main corral should 

 be only large enough to hold the number of reindeer that can be 

 handled in one day's work. Nothing is gained by making the cor- 

 ral larger, and furthermore in large corrals it is more difficult to 

 handle the animals when driving them into the pockets. 



DRIVING INTO CORRAL 



In corralling, a small band is quietly separated from the main 

 herd early in the morning while the reindeer are grazing and are 

 more or less scattered. Does are thus less apt to become separated 

 from their fawns. The small herd is then driven to the corral. 



Though more or less like cattle in habit of grazing, when being 

 driven reindeer bunch like sheep and drive almost as readily, except 

 for a tendency to mill. Where one goes the rest follow. In the 

 open reindeer move along with little milling, but when crowded 

 they start to mill. 



Wing fences extending out from the entrance to the main inclosure 

 serve to direct the reindeer into the corral. Preferably the entrance 

 driveway should lead upward into the corral. It is interesting to 

 watch the animals as they are crowded toward the inclosure with a 

 line of herders closing in behind and stretching a long strip of bur- 

 lap between them to discourage escape. Milling around always in 

 the one direction, all are much excited; the mouths of the older 

 animals are open ; they are panting and coughing ; there is a rustling 

 of snapping ankles ; and intermingling with these come the grunting 

 of fawns and the deeper-toned answering calls of the does. Occa- 

 sionally, a few animals, generally a doe and a fawn leading, will 

 suddenly break away and dash through the line of drivers. Others 

 may note them and follow, but the main herd remains intact, and 

 the few wandering ones, realizing that they have gone away from 

 the rest, usually soon turn back, the herders opening up to let them 

 in. Sometimes, however, they must be brought back by dogging. 



By persistent gradual crowding, done quietly and without excite- 

 ment, the herd is finally brought to the corral entrance. Consider- 

 able shouting and gesturing excite the animals and may cause them 

 to stampede, The leaders, seeing the corral opening, suddenly dash 



