In August 1944, the US Coast Guard introduced a small group of 29 reindeer to the isolated St. Matthew Island, a narrow tundra strip located over 200 miles from the nearest Alaskan village in the Bering Sea. This remote outpost was staffed by nineteen men during World War II, assigned to operate a long-range navigation system. The reindeer were brought in as a contingency food source should supplies be interrupted.
However, the emergency that justified their introduction never occurred. When the personnel left the island, they left the entire reindeer population untouched. The animals found themselves surrounded by abundant lichen, ample space to roam, and no significant predators, creating an almost idyllic environment.
The rapid population explosion
By the time wildlife biologist David Klein arrived on St. Matthew Island in 1957, the reindeer population had expanded dramatically to approximately 1,350 individuals. While most of the animals appeared healthy, Klein noticed early signs of ecological strain as their grazing began to degrade the slow-growing lichen that formed much of their diet.
Just six years later, Klein returned to find the herd had swollen to an estimated 6,000 reindeer, translating to roughly 47 animals per square mile. This intense density resulted in significant trampling and consumption of the island’s vegetation, undermining the very resources that had allowed such explosive growth.
Although St. Matthew Island initially provided a seemingly perfect sanctuary for the reindeer, capable of supporting a population boom, its ecosystem ultimately proved unable to sustain the ever-expanding herd indefinitely.