The Reaction of Barren-Ground Caribou to Aircraft

• Main Authors: George W. Calefl, Elmer A. De Bock, Grant M. Lortiea
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Sion; Yukon; Arctic; toundra; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.498.442; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic29-4-201.pdf

ABSTRACT. The responses of barren-ground caribou to fixed-wing aircraft and to helicopters were observed in the northern Yukon and Alaska. Effects of aircraft altitude, type of aircraft, season and terrain were determined together with the activity and size of group of the caribou. Panic reactions or strong escape reactions were observed in a high percentage of all groups when aircraft flew at altitudes of less than 60 metres. Flying at a minimum aircraft altitude of 150 metres during spring and fall migrations, and 300 metres at other periods, would prevent the caribou reacting in the ways most immediately injurious to them. R h U M k Rhctions du caribou de toundra aux appareils airoportks. Les rdac-tions du caribou de toundra aux avions et aux h6licoptBres furent dtudi&s dans le Yukon du Nord et en Alaska. Les auteurs en dbterminBrent les effets selon l’altitude, le type d’appareil, les saisons, le terrain, en même temps que l’activitb et la dimen-sion des groupes de caribous. Des rdactions de panique ou de fortes rdactions de fuite furent observ6es dans un pourcentage élev6 de tous les groupes lorsque les appareils volaient à des altitudes infbrieures 60 m&tres. En volant B des altitudes minima de 150 mBtres en p6riodes de migration au printemps et en automne et de 300 mBtres en tout autre temps, on bviterait des rhctions du caribou qui lui soient le plus imm6diatement nuisibles. PE3IOME. Peaxqus xanaacxozo ceeepxozo odeus xa cammrnw Ha cesepHoM