The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of frostbite among reindeer herders and to clarify the co-factors that may relate to these injuries. 2081 (60%) male reindeer herders in Finland were asked information on frostbite. Logistic regression analysis was used for studying the effect of potential co-factors. 453 men (22% of the respondents) reported frostbites during the last twelve months, the areas most affected being the face, fingers and toes. The amount of time spent in snowmobile driving, white finger symptom and the area of reindeer herding proved to be significant explanatory factors. Since the majority of frostbites were associated with snowmobile driving in spite of protection and adaptation to cold, it seems that new technology has not solved all the problems of the working conditions in a cold environment.
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Acta Vet Scand
January 2025
Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, Breivika, Tromsø, N-9019, Norway.
Background: The reindeer brainworm, Elaphostrongylus rangiferi, is a protostrongylid parasite of reindeer that has caused severe disease outbreaks in reindeer husbandry. E. rangiferi is considered ubiquitous in Norway, though most published prevalence studies are from Finnmark county only.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Environ Manage
November 2024
Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9019, Tromsø, Norway.
Climate change negatively impacts reindeer grazing in Fennoscandia, with the encroachment of Empetrum nigrum (crowberry) being a significant, yet largely unrecognized problem. Crowberry encroachment affects the neighboring palatable vegetation negatively, homogenizing the pasture and decreasing ecosystem biodiversity. Current husbandry management aims are based on sustainable use of the pasture land, yet pasture quality is not considered a central indicator.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Circumpolar Health
December 2024
Independent researcher, Corawill, Inc, Danbury, CT, USA.
Recent studies show that Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of Indigenous Peoples' food systems and the transfer of that knowledge to their children are critical to physical and mental health, promote the transfer of language and culture, and further resilience. The aim of this exploratory, medical ecological study was to document TEK about foraging and plant use among the Dukha, a small, semi-nomadic reindeer herding community in Northern Mongolia. Field research was conducted at multiple remote camps in 2019 and 2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
June 2024
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, Tromsø, Norway.
Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) pastoralism utilizes vast boreo-arctic taiga and tundra as grazing land. Highly fluctuating population sizes pose major challenges to the economy and livelihood of indigenous herder communities. In this study we investigated the effect of population fluctuations on core provisioning and regulating ecosystem services in two Sámi reindeer herding districts with contrasting fluctuation trends.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Vet Scand
January 2024
Section of Food Safety and Animal Health Research, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, 9016, Tromsø, Norway.
Background: Reindeer herding in Norway is based on traditional Sámi pastoralism with the animals free ranging throughout the year. The animals move over large areas in varying terrain and often in challenging weather conditions. Winter crises, such as difficult grazing conditions caused by icing or large amounts of snow, are survival bottlenecks for reindeer.
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