Prehistorically, Nunivak was home to a modest herd of caribou, but these were exterminated after the introduction of firearms in the late 19th or early 20th century.
En tempos prehistóricos, Nunivak foi o fogar dunha modesta manda de renos caribú, pero estes foron exterminados logo da introdución de armas de fogo no final do século 19 ou principios do século 20.