NOTES ON THE NUNAMIUT ESKIMO AND MAMMALS OF ... - arctic

190 THE NUNARIIUT ESKIMO ArjD RIAMMALS OF ‘THE ANAKTUVUK P.4SS REGION
wolf-caribou relationships. One of the most salient factors in connection
with any attempt at caribou management is the influence of domestic reindeer
on wild caribou stock. It is obvious, from past experience, that close herding
is necessary if reindeer are to be controlled. The coastal Eskimo do not seem
temperamentally suited to close herding, with the result that great losses have
occurred, when the unattended animals mingle with the wild caribou and
migrate with them. Such losses are often attributed to wolf predation, since
this is an explanation which is readily accepted, and which absolves the herder
of any blame. Wolves under some conditions no doubt do destroy reindeer.
However, successful herders, such as Tom Brower of Point Barrow, who follow
the close-herding method, consider damage by wolves to be negligible.
The admixture of inferior reindeer bloodlines with the native caribou is
serious. This has already occurred to a considerable degree, and it is hoped
that proper control will be exercised if the reindeer industry is revived in
Alaska. Ear-notched animals have been killed in the Anaktuvuk Pass country,
and white reindeer have been seen running with the caribou. The number of
unrecognized reindeer passing through could be great. Lantis (1950)
reviewed the Alaskan reindeer situation.
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There is no need here for more than a few passing remarks on the wolfcaribou
relationship, since it has already been discussed in detail by A. Ailurie
(1944). One must assume that predation has a regulatory effect of great
value. In my opinion, any evidence of excessive predation automatically
implies either an over-abundance of the prey species, or a disproportionate
number of diseased or other physically inferior animals. Otherwise the
predator is essentially in equilibrium with the species preyed upon. An
example is the great modification of predator-prey relationships which occurs
at the times of cyclic high population density of lemmings or other small
rodents (Rausch, 1950a). Unfortunately, the principles pointed out by
Errington (1946) are either poorly known or little considered. Hunting
pressure is obviously not a satisfactory substitute for predation; the hunter,
particularly the white man, attempts to kill the best animal possible, while
under natural conditions the weak, diseased, or injured animals are those which
will be eliminated. This concept is essentially substantiated by the work of
such outstanding biologists as A. Murie ( 1944), Errington (1946), Leopold
(1943; 1949), and Leopold, Sowls, and Spencer (1947). Unfortunately, the
often ill-advised and uninformed “sportsman” still has an unjustified influence
on game-management policies.
Diseased caribou have not been observed in this region. Larval cestodes
(Taenia spp.) are common, but probably have no detrimental effect and other
parasites are few and unimportant. The natural movement of the herds prevents
massive range contamination and precludes the building up of helminth
infections to dangerous proportions. Infectious diseases can hardly survive in
such a moving herd, since sick animals are left behind or are killed by wolves,
thus preventing more than the minimum contact with healthy animals.
The heavy seasonal hunting of the Nunamiut results mainly in the killing
of male animals. In the spring, hunting is begun as soon as the weather is