School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Abstract
Factors influencing calf survival are predation,
insects, weather, diseases, and-ultimately-dam condition. In addition, reindeer calves on the
Seward Peninsula are also subjected to annual herding
and handling. The effects of any of these factors
were unknown in reindeer herds on the Seward Peninsula.
Our objectives were to determine the causes
of mortality, particularly through purportedly high grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) predation; and to determine
the survival rates of reindeer calves in one
herd and provide management recommendations,
based on a simple model, attempting to increase
the herd numbers