Fall Sex/Age Composition, Body Condition, and Disease Screening and Collaring of211 Northern and Southern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herds, 1998

摘要

Ratio of bulls and calves: 100 cows were 31 and 30 (n = 1,342), respectively, for211u001ethe Northern Alaska Peninsula caribou herd (NAPCH) and 32 and 35 (n = 987), 211u001erespectively, for the Southern Alaska Peninsula caribou herd (SAPCH). Although 211u001ethe bull:cow ratios were similar, the NAPCH had fewer 'large' bulls (15% of all 211u001ebulls) than did the SAPCH (36%). The difference in proportion of large bulls 211u001eresulted from recent differences in hunting pressure between the herds. This is 211u001ethe first time in over 20 years that the SAPCH has been more productive than the 211u001eNAPCH. The authors collared 21 and 14 immature, known-aged females in the NAPCH 211u001eand SAPCH, respectively, with standard VHF radio collars. The authors also 211u001edeployed 6 satellite collars on mature females in the extreme southern portion of 211u001eUnit 9E and 8 in the extreme northern portion of Unit 9D to determine if these 211u001eanimals intermingle, i.e., whether the 2 herds are distinct. In addition to 211u001etaking weights, measurements and blood samples from the captured animals, the 211u001eauthors collected 10 female calves from the NAPCH to further assess body 211u001econdition and allow comparisons with calves from other herds.