Muskox

Muskox

THE SPECIES: Ovibos moschatus

Inuit hunters know the muskox as "Oomingmak", or the "bearded one", which amply describes this shaggy, primeval-looking mammal. With an ancestry that can be traced back at least 150,000 years in North America, the muskox is now one of the oldest surviving herbivores. While they may superficially resemble bison, muskoxen are more closely related to sheep, goats, and particularly, to the goral. Gorals are medium-sized goat-like ruminants found in mountains of eastern Asia.

The natural distribution of muskoxen is limited to tundra regions with some groups ranging below treeline. Where it once could be found throughout the Arctic, muskoxen were extirpated from much of their range except for reminant populations in Greenland and northern Canada. However, several successful attempts at reintroducing muskoxen to areas of historic range have resulted in a strong comeback by the species in Alaska. Natural dispersal has repopulated the Arctic islands and many mainland areas in northern Canada. The world population is currently about 100,000-150,00 muskoxen, of which the majority (at least 85,000 ) can be found in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. By comparison, the Yukon population has only recently become established and is still very small.

DISTRIBUTION

In 1969, 51 muskoxen were released off the Alaskan coast on Barter Island, about 120 km northwest of the Ivvavik National Park, in an attempt to reintroduce muskoxen to their former range. Muskoxen were believed to have been extirpated from the Alaskan coast in the mid-1800's.

Following an initial period of dispersal and slow growth, the population has increased rapidly and it now numbers over 400 muskoxen on the North Slope of Alaska. The animals have also expanded their range to include adjacent parts of northern Yukon.

While lone bull muskoxen or small bull groups were seen on the Yukon North Slope almost every year since the original release in 1969, it was not until 1984 that repeated sightings of cows were made on the Yukon side. In 1987, observations of mixed-sex groups with young calves suggested that a breeding population of muskoxen was being established in northern Yukon. Today, this "Yukon population" is believed to number between 150-200 muskoxen in several smaller herds that mostly range within the Ivvavik National Park and back into Alaska. Isolated groups have also been observed in the Richardson Mountains and south towards Old Crow.

CHARACTERISTICS

Many of the features that distinguish muskoxen from other ruminant species are adaptations designed to help the species survive in the severe Arctic environment year round. With the exception of their lips and nostrils, muskoxen are completely covered by a combination of long outer guard hair and a thick insulating blanket of soft underwool. The calves are born anytime between April and June when temperatures are still low and blizzards can occur. But they come equipped with a thick woolly coat and large amounts of baby brown fat that help to maintain body heat.

The slow and deliberate movements of muskoxen, their long resting periods, and their ability to digest low quality forage are important adaptations during winter when energy conservation becomes critical. To reach their forage through the heavily crusted and hard snow typical of the tundra, muskoxen use their well-developed front hooves as snow shovels. They also break their way through the hard snow by pounding their chins on the crust.

When threatened or disturbed, muskoxen bunch together in a unique defence formation. If enough muskoxen are present, they will group together in a tight ring facing outwards. This more or less circular defence formation is not always used, especially when the herd is small or when it is approached by a single potential predator, such as a wolf, bear, or man. In those cases, muskoxen are more likely to form a line abreast, all facing the approaching individual. If pressed further, muskoxen may stampede away from the disturbance. For an animal that is normally slow and deliberate, the muskox can run with surprising speed and agility.

A YEAR IN THE LIFE

Unlike caribou, muskoxen do not migrate as such but are relatively sedentary with limited seasonal movements between feeding areas. In northern Alaska and Yukon, the reintroduced muskoxen have localized along the major river drainages where the abundant sedge meadows and willow growth are a major component of the diet. Muskoxen do however make fairly large dispersal movements to new areas some distance away. These movements may occur when higher densities are reached or for a combination of environmental and social factors. In the Yukon isolated groups have been observed several hundred kilometers from the more traditional areas on the North Slope. During summer, muskoxen will complement their diet of sedges, with grasses, willow, and nutritious forbs. During winter, the animals are most often found in areas of shallow snow cover near sedge meadows, river banks, or in other windblown areas.

Muskoxen live together in loosely organized groups, or herds, that may split or join up with others at all times of the year. During winter, herds are usually larger and may number 50 or more animals. The large herds usually persist until late spring or early summer when the new calves are born and forage once again becomes readily available.

The smallest herds are usually seen during the rutting period (July-September). As the adult bulls become increasingly less tolerant towards each other, a harem-like situation develops. The dominant bull will seek sole possession of the herd and fend off other intruding bulls. Dominance is decided through aggressive behaviour between the bulls and may include long and spectacular clashes head-on. The impact of two adult bulls (each weighing 250-350 kg) charging at full speed is terrific and almost reminds one of two freight trains colliding!

MUSKOXEN AND PEOPLE

The close relationship between muskox and man is an ancient one that, at the turn of the last century, almost ceased to exist. While the defence formation of muskoxen may have been effective against predators such as the wolf, the same behaviour made them particularly vulnerable to hunting by man. In the early days, Inuit hunters with bows and spears used dogs to keep the muskoxen from running. As firearms were introduced in the Arctic, hundreds of muskoxen were shot for food to support explorers and whalers while thousands more were killed for their hides by the trappers and hunters of the fur-trading companies. As a result, muskoxen disappeared from large areas of their former range, including arctic Alaska.

In 1917, the Canadian Government passed the Northwest Game Act which put the muskox under protection and marked the beginning of a slow, but steady, recovery. Today, muskoxen are expanding in virtually all areas of their former range.

The Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope) together with government is developing a management plan for muskoxen on the North Slope. The plan will address matters such as harvest if the population is considered sustainable.

The soft underwool of muskoxen, also called "qiviut", is comparable to cashmere in quality and has been the main reason for several attempts at domesticating muskoxen. Today, the only commercial muskox farm is located near Palmer, Alaska, where about 105 animals are raised for the production of qiviut.

VIEWING OPPORTUNITIES

While lone bulls or small groups of muskoxen have been seen in several different areas of northern Yukon, your best chance to spot the "bearded one" is in the Ivvavik National Park. Good areas include the coastal plain and, particularly, the floodplains of the Firth and Malcolm Rivers.

However a word of warning is appropriate as the bulls can be temperamental, even aggressive, if approached too closely. Always keep your distance or you may find yourself wishing for a tree on the tundra!