This is an odd critter of the arctic tundra. It’s closest living relative is the golden takin – a goat-like animal of the Himalayas. Early explorers called them polar cattle or arctic bison. During the ice age they were found as far south as Kansas – imagine that! As the ice and tundra withdrew north, so did the muskox. Muskox were present in northern Alaska, then extirpated in 1850-1860, then later introduced here.
In 2000 there were about 4,000 in Alaska, but apparently numbers have declined recently. Bulls are about 5 feet high at the shoulder and weigh 600-800 pounds. Cows are smaller, averaging 4 ft in height and 400-500 pounds. Herds are well known for forming circles, with the youngsters in the middle, when threatened. I took this photo about 20 miles or so outside of Nome while up there on a project.
The local Alaska Fish and Game biologist said, “yea, they are pretty docile and will let you get close if you just move slowly – they tolerate humans”. This one was about 15 feet away on the other side of a stream. They are apt to get overheated in the summer. In the winter they will go to windblown ridge tops where lichens are not buried by snow – they have short legs so don’t do well in deep snow. They will just face into the wind in -20° F weather and just nod off. They like the cold.
Before I left Nome I had some time and wandered around the town and found a small, native-owned shop that had hand-crafted items. But it was closed. I had a short time the next day but was unsure if that would allow me a visit there. As I walked away from the shop a tall Inuit man with a pony tail caught up to me and said “Hey, saw you looking in there, what were you interested in?”
” I don’t know, maybe some carvings?” I said
“He replied “Well you can just go talk to a carver in town”
I said ” But I don’t know anyone in town”
He said “Well, you know me”
He gave me a couple names and said to look them up in the phone book. I did so back at the hotel and soon found myself wandering around town looking for an address. I found it and it was a typical Nome house. Some moose and reindeer antlers piled up against the house, which was raised on stilts above the permafrost, a snow machine – partially put back together, and a half dozen sled dogs chained up barking upon my approach.
I knocked and the family let me in and laid out some ivory carvings on the kitchen table, some made by the father and others by his son. I picked up a couple walrus and seal carvings for family back home, thanked them and went on my way. The following day I did manage to run to the store for a quick look and purchased a Christmas tree ornament. A small woven musk ox made out of musk ox hair.