Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) of Sigguup Nunaa, Greenland: Summary report for 1991-2022. Technical Report No. 130

1 Muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus ) of Sigguup Nunaa, Greenland: Summary report for 1991-2022 Technical Report No. 130, 2025 Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Natural Resources 2 Title: Muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus ) of Sigguup Nunaa, Greenland: Summary report for 1991-2022. Authors: Christine Cuyler1, Aaron II Karlsen2, Roberth Josvassen2 and Jens Peter Jørgensen3 1 Pinngortitaleriffik - Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland 2 3962 Upernavik Kujalleq, Greenland 3 Greenland Fisheries & Licensing Control (GFLK), 3962 Upernavik, Greenland Series: Technical Report No. 130, 2025 Date of publication: 25 July 2025 Publisher: Pinngortitaleriffik - Greenland Institute of Natural Resources Financial support: Pinngortitaleriffik - Greenland Institute of Natural Resources Cover photo: Christine Cuyler. ISBN: 978-87-94423-03-8 ISSN: 1397-3657 EAN: 9788 79 4423038 Cited as: Cuyler C., Karlsen A.II, Josvassen R. & Jørgensen J.P. 2025. Muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus ) of Sigguup Nunaa, Greenland: Summary report for 1991-2022. Pinngortitaleriffik - Greenland Institute of Natural Resources. Technical Report No. 130. 50 pp. Contact address: The report is only available in electronic format. PDF-file copies can be downloaded at this homepage: http://www.natur.gl/publikationer/tekniske rapporter http://www.natur.gl/publications/technical reports Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Natural Resources P.O. Box 570 DK-3900 Nuuk Greenland Phone: +299 36 12 00 E-mail: [email protected] www.natur.gl 3 Muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus ) of Sigguup Nunaa, Greenland: Summary report for 1991-2022 By Christine Cuyler1, Aaron II Karlsen2, Roberth Josvassen2 & Jens Peter Jørgensen3 1Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland 2 3962 Upernavik Kujalleq, Greenland 3 Greenland Fisheries & Licensing Control, 3962 Upernavik, Greenland Technical Report No. 130, 2025 Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Natural Resources 4 [Empty page] 5 Table of Contents Summary (English) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Eqikkaaneq (kalaallisut) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Resume (dansk) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Sigguup Nunaa muskoxen: a translocated population . . . . . . . 34 The 2002 minimum count . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Harvest data for 2004-2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Wolverine presence unverified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Monitoring recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Literature cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Figures 1. Map of Sigguup Nunaa (Svartenhuk Halvø) peninsula, Avannaata... Page 10 2. The snowmobile routes used for the April 2002 ground-based minimum … Page 12 3. Observed muskox feeding sites, April 2002, on the Sigguup Nunaa ... Page 13 4. Combination of snow cover and bare ground typical of the windswept ... Page 14 5. Consecutive locations where muskox groups were observed on the ... Page 15 6. Photographs of the unknown animal track observed deep in the ... Page 17 7. Frozen water overflow on the mountainsides and on rivers was common ... Page 19 8. Reported combined sport & commercial harvest of muskoxen… Page 20 9. Harvest quota and reported harvest of muskoxen from the Sigguup... Page 23 10. One of the three adult muskoxen shot illegally and left to rot in the … Page 24 11. Muskox populations in Greenland. Native populations (blue) are in ... Page 30 12. Overview of major place names for the Avannaata (Upernavik) … Page 31 13. Details for place names mentioned within the report for the southern … Page 32 14. Observers using binoculars and spotting scopes to find and count ... Page 36 15. Field map, with 4x4 km grid cells, used to record field location of each … Page 33 16. Repairing the undercarriage of Aaron’s snowmobile, 07 April 2002. ... Page 38 17. Travelling the sea ice, 08 April 2002, with Aaron II Karlsen’s & Roberth ... Page 39 18. Extra wide plastic skis (pink) attached under the snowmobile’s regular skis. Page 40 19. Refuelling before returning to Upernavik Kujalleq, 12 April 2002. ... Page 41 6 20. Two of the Yamaha snowmobiles used for the April 2002 muskox ... Page 41 21. Sea route between Upernavik and Upernavik Kujalleq on 13 April 2002 ... Page 42 22. Photograph of a Norwegian wolverine, member of the Mustelidae... Page 43 23. Two different track sequences common to wolverine: Sets of three ... Page 44 24. Size and shape of wolverine (Gulo gulo) tracks, front paw (below) & ... Page 45 25. Participants from the Avannata municipality for 2002 minimum count, … Page 46 26. View north into one of the five valleys on the southern coast of Sigguup … Page 46 27. An iceberg frozen in the sea ice of Karrats Fjord, with Aaron II Karlsen … Page 47 28. South-facing mountainside on the north side of Amitsup suvdlua Fjord, … Page 47 29. Solar halo over the flat mountain top, Sigguup Nunaa, 11 April 2002. Page 48 30. An ice berg frozen into the sea ice offshore from the town of Upernavik … Page 48 31. Last evening of the Sigguup Nunaa muskox minimum count, ... Page 49 Tables 1. Number of muskoxen observed on Sigguup Nunaa from 1991 to 2000. Page 11 2. Results of the 2002 muskox minimum count on the Sigguup Nunaa ... Page 16 3. Government of Greenland muskox quotas and reported harvest for ... Page 21 4. Government of Greenland quotas and seasons for trophy hunting of … Page 21 Appendices 1. Muskox populations in Greenland. Page 30 2. Place names for the Avannaata municipality & Sigguup Nunaa ... Page 31 3. April 2002 data collection sheet: muskoxen, Sigguup Nunaa ... Page 33 4. Methods for the 2002 minimum count Page 34 5. Journal of snowmobile problems & field repairs. Page 38 6. Sea ice route between Upernavik and Upernavik Kujalleq - 13 April 2002 Page 42 7. How to document possible wolverine tracks. Page 43 8. Photographs April 2002 field work for minimum count of muskoxen ... Page 46 Raw data for muskox locations, group size and calves are within this report. 7 Summary (English) This summary report provides a brief history of the translocation of 31 juvenile muskoxen to the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula in 1992, the results of a minimum count in April 2002, and available post-2002 information. The April 2002 minimum count observed 193 muskoxen, which included 14 calves (age < 1-year). At 7.25%, the calf percentage was low. Extensive winter ground-icing covering winter pasture in 2001/2002 may have been a major factor. Most muskoxen were observed in the southwest of the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula, i.e. within 40 km of the 1991 release site. Further, most were at elevations below 200 m, which is known to be preferred habitat for muskoxen. Sigguup Nunaa elevations < 200 m involve ca. 1140 km2, suggesting that density on lowland habitat was less than 0.2 muskoxen / km2. Following the translocation of muskoxen in 1991, all harvest was prohibited until 2004. That year, a quota of 40 muskoxen was permitted. Since then, quotas and harvested numbers have risen. Recently, it was acknowledged that the Upernavik hunter harvest was more than the reported harvest and possibly 2-3x greater than the permitted quota. Illegal killing has also occurred and may be a substantial source of mortality for the Sigguup Nunaa muskox population. In the year with highest illegal killings, 2021, about 50 muskoxen were wantonly shot and their entire carcasses left in the terrain. Ad hoc observation in 2002, and post-2002 from locals, suggest the possibility of wolverine (Gulo gulo) presence on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. To date, no reports have been verified. Conclusive documentation may require camera sites and hair snares. A guide for authenticating wolverine tracks is provided in the appendices. In 1992, muskoxen arrived to Sigguup Nunaa. The single monitoring effort was made in 2002. Although the 2002 count confirmed population growth since their translocation and release in 1991, recent population trend is unknown. Monitoring and assessment are urgently needed for both the muskoxen and their habitat. 8 Eqikkaaneq (kalaallisut) Nalunaarusiap eqikkaanertaani oqaluttuarineqarpoq umimmaaqqanik 31-nik Sigguup Nunaanut 1992-mi nuussineq, kiisalu ikinnerpaaffiliilluni kisitsinerup inerneri apriili 2002-meersut, ukiullu tamatuma kingorna paasissutissaatigineqalersut. Apriilimi 2002mi ikinnerpaaffiliisumik kisitsisoqarmat umimmaat 193it takuneqarput, taakkunanilu piaqqat 14it (ukioq ataaseq uumasimasut) ilanngullugit kisinneqarput. 2001/2002 ukiuunerani sermernartulioaqattaartoqarnerata kingunerisaanik taamak ikitsigisunik piaqqisoqarneranut patsisaasinnaavoq (7,25 procentit). Umimmaat amerlanerpaartaat Sigguup Nunaata kimmut kujasinnerusortaaniittut takuneqarput, imaappoq 1991imi nuussiviusumiit 40 kminik ungasitsigisumiittumi. Amerlanerpaartai 200 m ataallugit qattitsigisumiissimapput, tassa umimmaat uummavigissallugit iluarinerpaasartagaanni. Sigguup Nunaani nuna 1140 km2 annertussuseqartoq 200 meterinik qatsinnerusumiissuuvoq. Nunap pukkitsortaani umimmaqassuseq taamaasilluni < 0,2 umimmaat/km2 iluaniittarput. Nunap eqqaani najugallit takusinnaasaat malillugit tassa 2022imi kingornalu Sigguup Nunaani qappeqarnissaa (Gulo gulo) naatsorsuutigineqarpoq. Maannamulli uppernarsaataasinnaasumik nalunaaruteqartoqarnikuunngilaq. Nunami assiliissuserneqarnissaa pisariaqarsinnaavoq aammalu meqquminernik naatitsissutaasinnaasumik uppernarsaateqarnissaq anguniarlugu inissiisoqarsinnaassalluni. Qappeqassappat tumaasa uppernarsaatiginissaannut ilitsersuut kiggiunneqarsimasunut ilaavoq. Umimmannik 1992imi nuussisoqarnerata kingorna piniartoqarnissaa 2004 tikillugu inerteqqutaalluinnarsimavoq. Ukioq taanna umimmaat 40it pisassissutigineqarput. Tamatuma kingorna pisassiissutaasut pisarineqartullu amerligaluttuinnarsimapput. Unioqqutitsillunilu pisaqartoqartarnera pisarsimalluni Sigguullu Nunaani umimmannik toqusoqartarsimaneranut tamanna patsisaalluarsinnaalluni. 2021imi umimmaat 50it sorraatsumik aallaaneqariarlutik nunamut qimaannarneqarsimapput, Upernavimmilu pisassiissutaasut marloriaataanngikkunik pingasoriaataannik pisaqartoqartarsimassasoq naliliisoqarsimavoq. 9 Umimmaat Sigguup Nunaanut ukiut 34it matuma siorna nuunneqarput. Nakkutilliiniarlunilu iliuuserineqartutuaq ukiut 23it matuma siornatigut pisimavoq. Naallu 2002imi kisitsisoqarnerani 1992imi nuussisoqarnerisa kingorna amerleriarsimasut kisitsinerup takutikkaluarpaa, kingullertigulli qanoq umimmaqartiginersoq ilisimaneqanngilaq. Umimmaat uumaffiisalu allaatsinaanneqarnissaat misissuiffigineqartarnissaallu pisariaqartinneqaraluttuinnarpoq. 16 Figure 5. Consecutive locations ( ) where muskox groups were observed on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula, in the period 06 to 22 April 2002. 13 out of the 15 groups of muskoxen were observed in the southwest of the study area and within 40 km of the 1991 release location (Fig. 1, 5). Those 13 groups totaled 178 muskoxen, 92% of all observed. Further, 11 out of the 15 groups of muskoxen were observed at lowland elevations below 200 m (Table 2, Fig. 5). Those 11 groups totaled 140 muskoxen, 71% of the observed. None were observed at elevations over 300 m. The early April count was 193 muskoxen, which must not be confused with an estimate of muskox population size for the entire Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. 193 is just the number of muskoxen observed. In the 11 years since 31 juveniles were released in 1991, this constitutes an over 6-fold growth in population size. Despite growth, the rough (just two age categories) April 2002 herd structure observed a low percentage of calves, 7.25% (14 calves out of a total of 193 muskoxen). This suggests either possible poor calf production in the spring of 2001 or low calf survival over the winter 20012002. Alternatively, a combination of both may have occurred. Poor forage availability 17 is among the factors that can reduce winter calf survival. In April 2002, thick groundice covered much of the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula and was likely an effective barrier to foraging with negative consequences for calf survival. For caribou and muskoxen, extreme rain-on-snow and ice-locked pastures can drive mortality events (Kohler & Aanes 2004, Jenkins et al. 2011) and have led to severe population crashes (Hansen et al. 2019). Regardless, the low calf percentage, 7.25%, observed in 2002 cannot have been typical for the 1992-2001 period, or the observed 6-fold growth in population size would not have been possible. Table 2. Results of the 2002 muskox minimum count on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. * One muskox had ear tags. Age was 12 years because it was one of the translocated yearlings in 1991. ** 60 cm deep powder snow, where this group was foraging, initially obscured that they were standing up. Miscellaneous animal sightings or tracks On 05 April, while travelling over the sea ice from Upernavik to Upernavik Kujalleq, one seal (Fam. Pinnipedia) was lying on the ice. On the return to Upernavik, 13 April, four seals were observed on the ice. Species were not ascertained. Regarding the study area, beyond muskoxen, no other animals were sighted except birds, i.e., three ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) and two ravens (Corvus corax). However, several different animal tracks were seen. Tracks from one Arctic fox appeared in Tasiussaq valley and several of the other four valleys on the south coast. Like the fox, Arctic hare tracks were regularly observed inside the five river valleys of the southern coast. Hare tracks were also observed on the central east side of the peninsula in the Date Group ID # Group Size Calf Number Grid cell ID Longitude (DD.ddd) Latitude (DD.ddd) Elevation (m) 06-Apr-02 1 7 1 N_6 -55,3261663 71,8314247 ca. 100 06-Apr-02 2* 17 0 S_8 -55,0634641 71,6437476 ca. 250 07-Apr-02 3 16 1 S_5 -55,4120230 71,6478265 ca. 250 07-Apr-02 4 16 0 S_7 -55,1605715 71,6461915 ca. 250 07-Apr-02 5 4 0 V_6 -55,2103733 71,5316930 ca. 200 07-Apr-02 6 2 0 V_6 -55,2146185 71,5235244 ca. 150 07-Apr-02 7 3 0 V_6 -55,2313917 71,5195001 ca. 125 08-Apr-02 8 20 3 Y_9 -54.8684822 71.4155216 ca. 100 10-Apr-02 9 5 0 O_18 -53.8290878 71.7726416 ca. 100 11-Apr-02 10** 8 0 S_16 -54,1334579 71,6559917 ca. 100 11-Apr-02 11 11 0 Q_9 -54.9260655 71.7060999 ca. 150 11-Apr-02 12 38 5 O_4 -55.4811520 71.7728885 ca. 150 16-Apr-02 13 11 4 X_4 -55,5094705 71,4737805 ca. 100 16-Apr-02 14 33 0 Y_4 -55,4580947 71,4519440 ca. 100 22-Apr-02 15 2 0 K_8 -55.0524468 71.9342856 ca. 50 SUM 193 14 18 lowlands east of Firefjeld, inside the Kugssinerssuaq valley (north of Kanglussaq imâ Bay) and the Qordlortûp kûa river valley. Arctic hare had also made regular use of the underside of the Arfertuarssuk Fjord cabin. Fresh polar bear tracks came out from the Tasiussaq valley onto the Tasiussap imâ sea ice. The bear tracks came over the highlands that separated the Tasiussaq valley from the next valley to the east. Subsequent examination of the next valley revealed that the bear had descended from the glaciated mountain tops at the north end of that valley. Figure 6. Photographs of the unknown animal track observed deep in the Qordlortuup kûa river valley, east side of the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula, 10 April 2002. Length of paw print (left photo) was 8 cm, from toe-tip to rear of chevron (Ʌ) shaped foot pad. Unknown animal tracks On a hard snow substrate, tracks made by an unknown animal (Fig. 6) were observed deep inside the Qordlortûp kûa river valley, on the central east side of the peninsula at approximately 54.322° W and 71.782° N. The tracks followed the river and led further north into the valley. Although initially speculated to be wolverine, the two photographs taken do not show the claw marks, second rear heal pad, or the 5th toe characteristic of wolverine paw prints. Meanwhile, the length of the paw print (sans claws or rear heal pad), asymmetric toe pattern and chevron (Ʌ) shaped foot pad were somewhat reminiscent of wolverine. The track sequence of ‘sets’ of paw prints was not recorded, photographed or described. 19 Snow & ice In April 2002, snow conditions were highly variable. Snow depth on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula could be 1 meter and consist completely of powder snow. Most of the five valleys along the south coast were covered in such deep powder snow, so much so that the snowmobiles wallowed through, often tipping over. Deep powder was prevalent on the east side of the peninsula, specifically on the fjord ice of the bays, Umîvîup kangerdlua (Kanglussap imâ) and Kanglussap imâ. In the former, the powder snow hid underlying slush/ice, which slowed driving, and obscured dangerous holes in the sea ice. The latter were detected by a slight dip in the powder snow covering. The 1 m deep powder also covered the broad valley between Firefjeld and Itsako mountains. Even deeper powder covered the Kugssinerssuaq valley. Another valley, the Kangiussap kûa, was impossible to enter because of too much powder snow. The powder snow depth, which was ≥ 1m, was impossible for the snowmobiles to drive through. Only one snowmobile had the necessary gear, which were extra wide plastic skis that attached onto the bottom of the snowmobile’s usual metal skis (Appendix 5). These allowed that snowmobile to ‘surf’ through the powder snow and make a pathway for the three others to follow, albeit wallowing their way through. At other times, the snow surface was windblown and rock-hard, e.g. in the “pass” between the Amitsup kûa and Maligíssap valleys. In the Usuit kûgssuat valley, the snow was windblown, which made the surface hard enough for driving snowmobiles upon. If walking, however, the surface broke and you sank into it. Rivers could present difficult conditions for snowmobile driving because the river ice was often covered by a layer of water/slush or to lack ice completely. Also, the lack of ice on rivers was sometimes dangerously hidden under a layer of deep powder snow. Regardless, sufficient speed was necessary to avoid sinking into the rivers with snowmobiles and sledges. Finally, the sea ice between Upernavik and Upernavik Kujalleq was unreliable, specifically between islands. Also, by mid-April snowmobile sea ice travel was impeded by unexpected ice breakup, open sea water and excessive screw-ice (Appendix 6). Winter ground-icing – ice-locked pastures Over the count effort area, regardless of route taken, much of the ground surface was covered by a layer of ice that was 5-10 cm thick, e.g. this winter ground-icing covered the Amitsup kûa valley, entire Narssaq lowlands and everywhere we drove on the eastern side of the peninsula. The ice was caused by a rainstorm event that affected the entire Upernavik district on the 20th of December 2001 (Aaron II Karlsen, pers 20 comm). Frozen water overflow, apparent throughout the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula, even up the mountainsides (Fig. 7), may have been the result of that winter rain event. Figure 7. Frozen water overflow on the mountainsides and on rivers was common in early April 2002 on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. Photo by C. Cuyler. Information from the 2004-2022 harvest data Commercial & sport harvest Muskox hunting was prohibited on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula, from their release in 1991 until and including 2003. Hunter harvest began in 2004 with a quota of 40 muskoxen. The Government of Greenland manages harvest seasons and quotas. Initially, the Directorate for Environment and Nature (DMN) was involved but now decisions are made by the Department of Fisheries & Hunting (APN). The 2004 hunting season was from 01 August to 20 September, and both commercial and sport hunters were advised to take bulls. This also applied to the 2005 hunting season. In 2006, the government raised the annual quota to 60 muskoxen, based on local knowledge that the muskoxen were expanding northward toward the town of Upernavik, which suggested abundance was increasing (DMN, Jørgen Søholm pers 21 comm). The hunting season (1 Aug. – 20 Sept.) remained unchanged until at least 2010. Commercial hunters received the largest share of annual quotas and reported harvests reflect this difference (Table 3). Since hunting began in 2004, quotas and reported harvest increased (Fig. 8). In the period 2015-2022 the combined sport and commercial harvest quota for muskoxen on Sigguup Nunaa was 150 animals and the harvest season was from 01 August to 15 October, both dates included. Trophy bulls and cows with calf-at-heel were forbidden for sport and commercial harvest. Since 2004, the quota has remained evenly divided between the Upernavik and Uummannaq management areas. The Government of Greenland website, www.sullissivik.gl contains some information on harvest regulations. Figure 8. Reported combined sport and commercial harvest of muskoxen on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula in the 2004-2022 period. The drop in harvest number for 2022 is suspected owing to incomplete reporting. Data unavailable for 2017. Trophy harvest Since 2007 the possibility of trophy hunting has been permitted and allocated a small annual quota, which could be fulfilled over the summer and winter season (Table 4), however, trophy quotas may never have been utilized. To date, the trophy hunting industry for Sigguup Nunaa has yet to develop, e.g. in 2024 there was no trophy hunting activity (Nuka M. Lund pers comm). 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Reproted harvest of muskoxen Year 22 Table 3. Government of Greenland muskox quotas and reported harvest for sport and commercial hunters from the Upernavik & Uummannaq regions. Year Harvest Quota Total Reported Harvest1 Upernavik harvest Uummannaq harvest Sport Commercial Sport Commercial 2004 40 36 0 17 3 16 2005 40 46 8 15 3 20 2006 60 54 4 21 12 17 2007 50 47 4 19 7 17 2008 50* 44 5 20 4 15 2009 48 48 3 19 4 22 2010 70* 73 4 33 9 27 2011 70 61 5 19 4 33 2012 70 52 4 21 4 23 2013 70 64 5 29 7 23 2014 70 98 6 57 11 24 2015 82 80 8 29 7 36 2016 150 109 7 52 5 45 2017 150 unavailable unavailable unavailable unavailable unavailable 2018 150 98 8 45 10 35 2019 150 123 9 47 6 61 2020 150 118 8 42 20 48 2021 150 131 9 55 14 53 2022a 150 85 11 38 6 30 SUM 1920 1367 108 578 136 545 1 The Government of Greenland harvest data is not associated with the population from which the animal is shot. Instead, harvest is associated with the hunter’s address. Since hunters can travel and take animals from several populations, the reported harvest in the above table may include muskoxen from other populations than Sigguup Nunaa, e.g. 2005, 2010, and 2014 quotas versus reported harvest. * Likely quota for given year when documentation was not available. a 2022 harvest may yet be incompletely reported. Table 4. Government of Greenland quotas and seasons for trophy hunting of muskoxen on Sigguup Nunaa. Upernavik & Uummannaq regions, despite the trophy hunting industry remaining undeveloped. When data was unavailable, the cells are blank. Year Trophy Quota Trophy Season summer winter 2007 10 1 Jul – 15 Oct 11 Mar – 11 Apr 2008 2009 12 1 Jul – 15 Oct 11 Mar – 11 Apr 2010 12 1 Jul – 15 Oct 11 Mar – 11 Apr 2011 12 1 Jul – 15 Oct 11 Mar – 11 Apr 2012 12 1 Jul – 15 Oct 11 Mar – 11 Apr 2013 12 1 Jul – 15 Oct 11 Mar – 11 Apr 2014 12 1 Jul – 15 Oct 11 Mar – 11 Apr 2015 12 1 Jul – 15 Oct 11 Mar – 11 Apr 2016-2020 12 unavailable unavailable 2021 12 01 Aug – 31 Oct 15 Feb – 10 Mar 2022 12 01 Aug – 31 Oct 15 Feb – 10 Mar 2023 12 01 Aug – 31 Oct 15 Feb – 10 Mar 2024 12 01 Aug – 31 Oct 15 Feb – 10 Apr 23 Illegal harvest Over the years, illegal harvesting was reported. Sometimes animals were shot, and the entire carcass, or portions thereof, just left in the terrain to rot. In the summer of 2002 (same year as the minimum count described in this report), six muskoxen were shot on the shores of Umîvîup Kangerdlua Fjord, on the east side of the peninsula. Only the hind legs had been removed from the carcasses. Members of the Nuugaatsiaq settlement were responsible (Nuugaatsiaq, anon pers comm). That same summer, a further two kills were suspected, and several crippled muskoxen were observed hobbling on the shores of the Umîvîup Kangerdlua Fjord. In 2003, an illegal harvest was again reported of four or five muskoxen shot on the eastern side of Sigguup Nunaa by members of the Nuugaatsiaq settlement (Nuugaatsiaq, anon pers comm). This event was reported to the police. In September 2015, the Upernavik hunting officer, Niels E. P. J. Hansen, discovered 13 muskoxen that had been shot illegally on the west side of Sigguup Nunaa, directly south of the Upernavik Kujalleq settlement. The carcasses were found ca. 5 km from the coast and spread over a ca. 50 m area on a hill slope. There were three untouched adult carcasses that were left to rot in the terrain (Fig. 11). The remaining ten were small-bodied calves and juveniles that had been skinned and their heads scattered about. In 2021, in the southern portion of Sigguup Nunaa, ca. 50 muskoxen were illegally shot. All were left rotting in the terrain. On the 16th of August 2021, the website for the Government of Greenland (https://naalakkersuisut.gl), published the news that at least 20 muskoxen were killed illegally on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula and the carcasses untouched. The 2021 killings and those in 2015 are classed as wanton killings rather than harvest. The 2021 carcasses were found inside three fjords, Arfertuarssuk, Mitdlôrfik and Amitsup suvdlua. Using a helicopter to fly over the south portion of Sigguup Nunaa, the local hunting officer and Greenland police investigated. They observed ca. 50 carcasses and a total of only seven live muskoxen (Nuka Møller Lund pers comm). If found, the perpetrator(s) would have faced the possibility of a fine, confiscated boat/firearm and loss of hunting license. No arrests were forthcoming. In response to the above news, the president of a local chapter of the Greenland Hunter’s Union (KNAPK) in Avannaata appeared on Qanorooq (Greenland National Television evening news) and said Upernavik hunters typically shoot two to three 24 muskoxen per hunting license, rather than just the one permitted. Besides illuminating poor hunter compliance with regulations, his statement suggested illegal harvesting was common and amounted to 2-3 times the government quota for Upernavik. GINR responded with the recommendation that documentation be obtained for how many muskoxen were shot annually and the health/body condition of those harvested. Further, GINR suggested asking for the local hunters’ opinion regarding muskox population size, whether population growth was occurring, and if the muskox harvest quota was reasonable in relation to population size. To date, this information remains to be obtained. Figure 9. Harvest quota and reported harvest of muskoxen from the Sigguup Nunaa muskox population, now with total numbers of muskoxen removed when illegal harvest and/wanton killings are added. Although Figure 9 provided information about the reported harvest. This is not the total number of muskoxen removed annually because illegal harvest and wanton killings occur. The total number of muskoxen removed annually from the Sigguup Nunaa muskox population often exceeded permitted quota when illegal harvest and wanton killing (shot and left to rot) are added to the reported legal harvest (Fig. 10). Given the suggestion that Upernavik hunters typically shoot two to three muskoxen per hunting license and assuming the illegal harvest for the Upernavik half of the annual harvest is just double the Upernavik reported catch and applies to only 2020, 2021 and 2022, then true harvest may be at least an additional 50, 64 and 49 animals respectively. When wantonly killed animals are added (13 in 2015; ca. 50 muskoxen in 2021) into the appropriate year, then the total removed became 93 in 2015 and 245 in 2021. 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 Number of muskoxen Year Harvest quota Reported harvest Total removed if illegal harvest added Total removed if wanton killing added Illegal harvest 2 25 Figure 10. One of the three adult muskoxen shot illegally and left to rot in the terrain on the west side of Sigguup Nunaa in 2015. Photo by Niels Hansen, hunting officer Upernavik. Wolverine presence - unverified Although there are wolverines on Ellesmere Island, Canada, there are few historical reports of wolverine in Greenland, and these consist of only track sightings in the nearby Thule region during the 1930s and 1940s (Glass et al. 2022). The Greenland reports were never verified by photographs, but the sheer volume of reports suggests wolverine were occasional visitors to Thule (Muus et al 1981, Glass et al. 2022). Given the lack of reports over the latter half of the 20th century, in 1991 (translocation year, and the decade thereafter) it was assumed that there were no large predators on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula, polar bears notwithstanding. However, during the muskox minimum count of April 2002 tracks of an unknown animal were observed. At the time of sighting (10th of April 2002), the tracks were suspected of being wolverine (Gulo gulo). Upon further examination, the identification of the unknown track was inconclusive. Among other characteristics, individual wolverine tracks 32 Appendix 2 Place names (official and unofficial) commonly used in the Avannaata municipality & Sigguup Nunaa (Svartenhuk Halvø) peninsula Names provided in this report are taken from maps using archaic spelling norms for the Greenlandic language (Kalaallisut). Field work was based on these maps. The maps were produced by Tage Schjøtt, Kortog Matrikelstyrelsen, Denmark: - Published 1992, Nunavik [Svartenhuk] (A66/90), 1:250,000 - Published 1992, Upernavik [Upernavik] (A66/90), 1:250,000 In the 1970’s, the Government of Greenland legislated new spelling norms, but implementation has been slow. Official place names (new spelling) can be found here: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=c5c7d9d52a264980a24911d7d33914b5 Note: to see names on the map, zoom in until displayed scale bar indicates 0-3 km. Figure 12. Overview of major place names for the Avannaata (Upernavik) municipality and Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. Elevations under 200 m are green, those above 200 m are pale yellow. Glaciers and Ice Cap are white. 33 Figure 13. Details for place names mentioned within the report for the southern portion of the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. Elevations under 200 m are green, those above 200 m are pale yellow. Glaciers are white with bluish borders. 34 Appendix 3 April 2002 data collection sheet: muskoxen, Sigguup Nunaa (Svartenhuk Halvø) peninsula Date Group Size Calf Number Grid Cell Ulloq Amerlassusgi Piaqqat Sumiiffik Dato Total Antal Kalve Position Jfr. Vedlagt Kort 35 Appendix 4 Methods for the 2002 minimum count Facilitation of community-based muskox minimum count On 03 April 2002, a GINR research scientist, Dr. Christine Cuyler, travelled to Upernavik to meet with community members on 04 April for an exchange of information and to finalize all details of the proposed April 2002 minimum count of muskoxen on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. The meeting was attended by Jens Immanuelsen (Mayor), Julianne Sørensen (Municipal Director), Nikolaj Jensen (Business Manager), Aaron II Karlsen (Commercial Hunter, Upernavik Kujalleq), Roberth Josvassen (Commercial Hunter, Upernavik Kujalleq), Jens Peter Jørgensen, “Aqqaluk” (Upernavik Hunting Officer for Greenland Fisheries and License Control (GFLK)), and C. Cuyler (GINR). Aaron II Karlsen, Roberth Josvassen, and Jens Peter Jørgensen, were chosen by the Upernavik leadership to participate in the field work and become acquainted with muskox minimum count methods. Study area Aside from the translocated population of muskoxen, native wild mammals present on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula were the arctic hare (Lepus arcticus Rhoads), arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus Linnaeus), and a vestigial presence of native caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus). Large mammalian predators were absent at the time of translocation. Albeit polar bears (Ursus maritimus) were known to frequent coastal sea ice in winter. Although there are several settlements and one town in the Avannaata municipality (all of which are on islands), there are no permanent human habitations in the study area of the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. The nearest settlement, Nuugaatsiq (84 inhabitants), is 24 km distant to the east on the island of Qeqertarsuaq (Appendix 2). 32 km to the west lies the next nearest settlement, Upernavik Kujalleq (Søndre Upernavik, 201 inhabitants). The third closest settlement, Kangersuatsiaq (Prøven, 130 inhabitants) lies further to the north. The largest center, the town of Upernavik (1009 inhabitants), is north of the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. Beyond the roads inside the settlements and town, no roads exist in the Avannaata municipality, including the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. Typically, to access the peninsula from Upernavik, boats are used in ice-free seasons and snowmobiles or dog sledge when sea ice is present. Since Upernavik has an airport, there exists the possibility of air access to the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft. 36 The Sigguup Nunaa is a peninsula extending southwest from the Greenland mainland and located at ca. 7149’N, 5425’W. The study area for the count is bounded to the west by Umîarfik Fjord and further west Baffin Bay. To the south is the Uummannaq Fjord system, specifically the Karrats Fjord. To the east the Uvkusigssat Fjord (Ukkusissat Sulluat) separates the peninsula from the glaciated highlands (peak elevations from 1050 m to 2160 m) of Ingia and Akuliarusinguaq, which border the Greenland Ice Cap. The slim northern half of the study area is dominated by steepsided glacier-covered mountains. The bulbous southern half is also mountainous but has most of the lowlands (Fig. 1). When glaciers (ca. 635 km2) and lakes (ca. 17 km2) are removed, the total study area is ca. 4150 km2. The land area with elevations of >200 m is ca. 3010 km2 (glaciers, lakes removed). The remaining lowlands, elevations from 0 to 200 m, account for just ca. 1140 km2 (lakes removed). The highest elevation within the study area is 1732 m. Climate on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula is cold. Below-freezing temperatures dominate nine months of every year but can occur anytime. Upernavik, the nearest center with climate data (Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI)) is characterized as Tundra climate. For the 1991-2020 period, mean summer (July) temperatures were from 4°C to 9°C, and mean winter (February-March) temperatures from -22°C to - 16°C. Monthly precipitation averages range from 8 mm to 38 mm. Most precipitation falls in the autumn months of September, October, and November. Total annual precipitation is ca. 250 mm and there are ca. 113 days of precipitation annually. The latitude of the peninsula being well above the Arctic Circle (ca. 66.34°N), continuous daylight prevails in summer, the opposite in winter, and minimal sunlight during the early spring and late autumn. The growing season is short, ca. 80-85 days. Field methods In 2002, all motorized ground transport on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula was prohibited by law. Thus, dispensation from the Government of Greenland was obtained for the study period, number of vehicles and participants. The ground-based count used four snowmobiles, three of which pulled sledges carrying fuel, gear and provisions. These included the Upernavik hunting officer’s snowmobile and sled. The two hunters, Aaron and Roberth, supplied their own snowmobiles and sledges (dogsleds), and the fourth was rented from Upernavik. Before departure, all snowmobiles received mechanical service. 37 Based on Jens Peter Jørgensen’s, Aaron II Karlsen’s and Roberth Josvassen’s knowledge of muskoxen distribution on the Sigguup Nunaa peninsula, all count effort was in the southern half of the study area. The three local participants also determined the daily routes based on terrain features and prevailing weather conditions. A handheld Garmin “etrex legend” GPS device recorded daily routes taken and locations. To avoid counting the same muskox group or individual twice, all routes were counted only once. Animals not immediately visible, e.g. hidden behind terrain features, along a route remained undetected. The minimum count includes only those animals observed. Figure 14. Observers using binoculars and spotting scopes to find and count muskoxen, April 2002 groundbased minimum count, Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. Photos by C. Cuyler Muskoxen were located while driving snowmobiles through the terrain. Detecting and counting muskoxen was aided by binoculars (10x magnification, Leica) and spotting scopes (32x-60x magnification, Leica) (Fig. 14). The latter allowed distances between observers and animals of up to about two kilometres, which ensured that the muskoxen did not react with fear to the presence of the observers. Unafraid muskoxen remain spread across the landscape, which makes any calves present readily visible for counting. All four participants functioned as observers and C. Cuyler (GINR) also recorded the data on a field data sheet, which included the date, total number of muskoxen in each group, and whether calves were present (Appendix 3). Calf percent for the population was calculated from the total number observed. We used two age categories, i.e. calve (age < 1-year) and all others (age > 1-year). Body size was the criteria for age, since calves are small-bodied and have almost indiscernible horns 38 (Olesen & Thing 1989). Sex was not ascertained. Further, every observation was assigned to a grid cell location from the field map (Fig. 15) and specific location marked on that map. GPS locations for muskox groups were approximated from those marks using MapInfo Professional (Version 10.5.2 Pitney Bowes Software), and each muskox group given an ID number in the consecutive order that they were observed. Figure 15. Field map with 4x4 km grid cells used to record field location of each muskox group observed in 2002. When observed, we recorded the location of muskox grazing sites, e.g. where muskoxen had dug craters into the snow to find forage. Tracks or the presence of other animals were also recorded. 39 Appendix 5 Journal of snowmobile problems & field repairs The four Yamaha snowmobiles had already seen one or several years of use. One was the hunting officer’s service vehicle. Two belonged to the commercial hunters and one was a rental. The challenging driving conditions encountered on Sigguup Nunaa during the fieldwork resulted in snowmobiles tipping over while driving and motor/chassis breakdowns. On-the-spot field repairs of the snowmobiles were necessary almost daily, or the minimum count of muskoxen would have had to be abandoned before completion. Once the count effort was finished, all machines required extensive mechanical service, repairs, and parts replacement. 05 April 2002: Just five kilometers out of Upernavik, a short narrow rock-filled gully caused a snowmobile to tip over. This broke the steel sled hitch and the radio antennae that was attached to the snowmobile. Heavy rope secured the sled to the snowmobile thereafter. Duct tape and wrench for support ‘fixed’ the antenna in place. Meanwhile, the skis of the rented snowmobile wandered and twisted erratically from side-to-side. Only constant brute force kept a steady line of travel. This remained true for the duration of the fieldwork. 06 April 2002: A blizzard reduced visibility down to 20-30 m. Wind gusts were so strong, they flipped heavily loaded sleds over onto their backs twice while driving. The wind combined with the rented snowmobile’s erratic ski steering tipped that machine, which bruised the driver. The rental machine uses up fuel too quickly. 07 April 2002: Halfway through today’s route, the undercarriage chassis on a commercial hunter’s snowmobile came apart and had to be repaired with what we had available (Fig. 16). The rental snowmobile lacked the engine power to climb hillsides and tipped twice. Twice, despite careful driving, the deep soft snow near the location of muskox group number 6, caused a hunter’s snowmobile to bog down and tip over. Figure 16. Repairing the undercarriage of Aaron’s snowmobile, 07 April 2002. From left to right, Jens Peter Jørgensen, Aaron II Karlsen (working on snowmobile) and Roberth Josvassen. 40 08 April 2002: No snowmobile problems today (Fig. 17), except that the rental machine continues to burn fuel too quickly and ran out-of-gas twice today. Aaron and Jens made a special trip to Nuugaatsiaq for fuel so that all machines could make it to Nuugaatsiaq today. When we reached Nuugaatsiaq, the undercarriage of Aaron’s snowmobile was broken. Figure 17. Travelling the sea ice, 08 April 2002, with Aaron II Karlsen’s and Roberth Josvassen’s snowmobiles pulling their sleds using ca. 8-10 m length of rope. 09 April 2002: Before we could depart Nuugaatsiaq, the undercarriage of Aaron’s snowmobile required welding repairs. Because of repairs, we departed Nuugaatsiaq at 14:30. Arrived at Remy Jensen’s cabin an hour later. Although the sea ice was covered by only 20 cm of powder snow. At the cabin, three of the snowmobiles bogged down in deep (1 m) powder snow. 10 April 2002: This evening, major repairs and many work hours were required on both hunter’s snowmobiles. On Roberth’s machine, the undercarriage needed repairs to one of the axles and two of the small wheels, one of which had become stuck and stripped its threads. The axel had lost its bolt. We replaced it with another taken from the back rack. However, that bolt was too long, so we needed all the large sized washers that Jens (Aqqaluk) had brought with him to make it tight. 41 Further, the rental snowmobile was getting worse to steer, as the skis twist violently. We repaired the left ski by hammering somewhat straight the badly bent steering rod that runs almost the length of the ski base. (Obviously, the bent steering rods should have been replaced with new ones before the fieldwork began.) Also, a part in the rental’s undercarriage suspension had broken, so we made a temporary fix by tying it back together with binder twine. Figure 18. Extra wide plastic skis (pink) attached under the snowmobile’s regular skis. Photo by C. Cuyler. 11 April 2002: Deep powder snow in the Qiterdlikavsak valley bogged down three of the four snowmobiles. Only the machine with the extra wide plastic skis (Fig. 18) could get into this valley. By late afternoon, the undercarriage of Hunting Officer’s snowmobile broke apart. It could not pull its sled but made it back to Upernavik Kujalleq. The rental machine pulled the sled. 12 April 2002: The undercarriage of Hunting Officer’s snowmobile needed welding repairs before we could head out today. On the first day of the fieldwork, the steel hitch for the sled broke. Thereafter the sled was affixed to the snowmobile with rope. Driving over stone-hard blown snow created repeated pull, push and slam of the sled into the rear undercarriage, so now some pieces of the undercarriage were shattered, and the belt flap ruined. Today, it was 14:00 before repairs were completed and we could leave to count muskoxen. After driving in the mountainous terrain surrounding the Mitdlôrfik Fjord, the undercarriage of Roberth’s snowmobile broke and had to be repaired to make possible the return trip to Upernavik Kujalleq (Fig. 19). This required 1½ hours. Further, by the end of today’s work, Aaron’s snowmobile undercarriage broke apart, which would need welding to repair. 48 Figure 26. View north into one of the five valleys on the southern coast of Sigguup Nunaa peninsula. Photo by C. Cuyler. Figure 27. An iceberg frozen in the sea ice of Karrats Fjord, with Aaron II Karlsen driving his snowmobile and towing dog sled in the foreground. Photo by C. Cuyler. 49 Figure 28. South-facing mountainside on the north side of Amitsup suvdlua Fjord, illustrating the blue frozen waterfalls typical for Sigguup Nunaa mountain slopes in early April 2002. Photo by C. Cuyler. Fig. 29. Solar halo over the flat mountain top, Sigguup Nunaa, 11 April 2002. Photo by C. Cuyler 50 Figure 30. An ice berg frozen into the sea ice offshore from the town of Upernavik. Photo by C. Cuyler 51 Figure 31. Last evening of the Sigguup Nunaa muskox minimum count, 12 April 2002. Photo by C. Cuyler 52 [Empty page]