REINDEER IX ALASKA. 49 
the range and best results with the animals. Under present meth- 
ods, in addition to being used as fawning ground in spring, the 
range is often grazed continually during the summer season, and 
this subjects it to becoming depleted through over-utilization. Set- 
ting aside a separate area for use only during fawning would in- 
sure a forage crop each spring and plenty of the best available fresh 
green food for the does at the time. 
The practice of weaning fawns is not followed in Alaska, and 
many of them are still being suckled when the next fawn arrives. 
This is not only a double drain on the doe, but also is detrimental 
to the new fawn. Consequently herd owners should separate year- 
lings, along with bucks and steers, from the does prior to fawning. 
One Alaskan owner has already put this into effect. It is an old 
Lapp practice which was discontinued by them when they came to 
Alaska and should be revived. 
Feeding experiments. 
Feeding reindeer has been tried out on a small scale. In 1920 
two fawns were brought to the Unalakleet station and kept inside 
a small yard and shed for a period of six months. During this time 
they were fed the following: Reindeer moss, 3,000 pounds; wild 
native hay, 1,500 pounds; and assorted meal, 200 pounds. The meal, 
which was such as could be purchased at any village store, consisted 
of rolled oats, cornmeal, oatmeal, farina, graham flour, wheat flour, 
and hominy. The only item on this list which the fawns refused 
to eat was the hominy, which was apparently too hard for their 
teeth, and after attempting to crack the kernels a few times, they 
gave it up. In addition, apple and potato peelings and similar 
scraps were fed and much relished by the animals. The above test 
indicates that reindeer may be housed and domesticated like other 
animals, although the pair experimented with were not kept en- 
tirely away from reindeer moss. 
Eeindeer are not careful feeders like the horse. They resemble 
cattle in this respect and do not object to food which has been han- 
dled or, in some cases, even trampled. There is little difficulty, 
therefore, in getting them accustomed to a new food. They may 
refuse it at first if it looks or smells strange, but this can be over- 
come by forcibly placing some of it in their mouths, and if it is 
found palatable they will soon take it freely. 
Reindeer respond promptly to a good food supply. A corre- 
spondent on the lower Yukon acquired a herd which had been badly 
managed, and the animals were in very poor physical condition. 
He put them on good pasture, and though they improved to some 
extent, the average dressed weight of the steers was only 150 pounds 
105932°— 22 4 
