30 BULLETIN 1423, II. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE 
The damage to lichen range is particularly serious. It may take a 
burned-over lichen area as much as 25 years to come back; or where 
so badly burned that the cover of humus is destroyed, the changed 
site conditions may result in a recovered stand of inferior species, 
or virtually in a permanent removal of the 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 the 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 
Norton 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 higher 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 use and protection. 
As regards carrying capacity generally, winter grazing requires a 
larger acreage than summer for a number of reasons : 
First, the lichens which constitute the principal winter food are, 
as mentioned, wholly different from the herbaceous vegetation mak- 
ing up the summer 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 covered with vegetation as the summer areas 
adjacent to the coast or lying along the lower foothills. Much of 
this top country may be almost barren in places, 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 required 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 overuse, a larger acreage 
must be provided to put into effect a scheme of deferred and rota- 
tion grazing. 
All three factors, then, point to the necessity of a larger acreage 
requirement under winter grazing, although the second factor may 
result in considerable 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 plus 30 to 45 
