We are in the middle of one of the largest wildlife preserves, the Yukon Delta Wildlife Refuge which is the largest refuge in the nation, 20 million acres. About a third of this refuge is covered by water so is prime nesting ground for the migratory waterfowl. In the past I have seen Tundra swans nesting, Sandhill cranes dancing, ducks, geese, ptarmigan, all coming back in the spring. It was the first time I heard the word cacophony in use.
Doesn't look like much, but it is home to mice that have been digging. If I were hungry enough I would be collecting those long white things along with other people in this area. They are negaasget and utngungssaraat, mouse food. There is a bulb on the tundra that mice run around and collect its roots. We saw a filled quart sized bag for $25. You put them in a pot of water and heat almost to boiling. They taste like chicken, no, potatoes....
Lots of mice and voles make their way through the tundra digging up this peat. There were holes throughout this area. And where there are mice there are.....fox.
The fox poop....scat. Lots of berries eaten....
The fox hole....many red fox in the area. As you get closer to the coast you can see Arctic fox. Sometimes they do come into the village and are feared greatly. News gets out on the VHF radios as rabies is common.
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