UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 1089 
Washington, D. C. 
September 22, 1922 
REINDEER IN ALASKA. 
By Seymour Hadwen, Chief Veterinarian and Parasitologist, and Lawrence J. 
Palmer, In Charge of Grazing Investigations, Bureau of Biological Survey. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introductory (By E. W. Nelson) 
Biology of reindeer 
Description 
Disposition 
Teeth 
Shedding horns 
Growth of horns 
Shedding the velvet 
Shedding hair 
Alaskan and Norwegian rein- 
deer compared 
Reindeer as range stock 
Ownership of herds 
Increase of herds 
Utilization of reindeer 
Slaughtering and handling 
meat 
By-products 
Tanning 
Reindeer milk 
Grazing and range management 
Available grazing area 
Range suitable for reindeer 
Forage cover 
Forage grazed 
Grazing periods and climate 
Range management 
Carrying capacity 
Grazing units 
Overgrazing 
Deferred and rotation grazing 
Regulations and range control-. 
Herd management 
Supervision of herds 
Community herds 
Size of herds 
Distribution and control within 
unit 
Grading up the stock 
9 
10 
id 
11 
12 
12 
17 
is 
18 
10 
10 
120 
22 
25 
27 
28 
20 
20 
Mil 
32 
8:: 
33 
•'!4 
35 
35 
36 
39 
Page. 
Handling the herds 40 
Round-ups 40 
Corrals 41 
Method of roping 44 
Ear-marking 45 
Branding 46 
Dehorning 47 
Castration 47 
Fawning 48 
Feeding experiments 49 
Breaking sled reindeer 50 
Packing and riding 51 
Predatory animal enemies 52 
Injuries and diseases 52 
Accidents 53 
Broken horns 53 
Broken bones 54 
Long hoof 54 
Foot rot 54 
Dermatitis and abscesses 55 
Eve troubles 56 
Warts 56 
Rheumatism 56 
Rickets 57 
Parasites 57 
Tapeworms 57 
Lungworms 59 
Roundworms 60 
Prevention and treatment of 
worms 60 
Warble flies 61 
Nostril flies 64 
Screw worms 66 
Mosquitoes 67 
Lice 67 
Protozoa 68 
Pathological conditions in general — 68 
Summary 69 
Check-list of Alaskan range plants 70 
INTRODUCTORY. 
Reindeer grazing is an industry of the arctic and subarctic regions. 
In northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and Siberia it dates 
far back in history and is of considerable economic importance. 1 ' 2 
1 Laufer, Berthold, The reindeer and its domestication : Mem. Amer. Anthr. Ass'n., vol. 
4, no. 2, pp. 91-147, April-June, 1917. 
2 Hatt, Gudmund, Notes on reindeer nomadism : Mem. Amer. Anthr. Assfn., vol. 6, no. 
2, pp. 75-133, April-June, 1919. 
Note. — This bulletin presents the results of the first detailed studies of reindeer graz- 
ing, range and herd management, forage plants-, and of diseases and parasites, with 
methods for their control. For distribution to those interested in improving the herds 
and developing the reindeer industry as one of the major resources of Alaska* 
105932°— 22 1 
