Alaska Wildlife - Mukluk the Musk Ox finds her home
13/06/11 18:31 Filed in: Alaska Wildlife
Mukluk being fed at about 3 months of age. Every year Alaskan visitors enjoy the new spring babies at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. The caribou, musk ox, elk, and wood bison all gave birth in the last month.
The center was originally established for the preservation of the wood bison but evolved into a center dedicated to the care or orphaned and injured animals and providing wildlife awareness and education and Alaska’s most visited attraction. Now covering 200 acres, 15 habitats are home to well over 80 animals including brown and black bears, moose, musk-oxen, caribou, coyotes, elk, and birds of prey in addition to the wood bison.
In June 2010, an orphaned baby musk ox named Mukluk was brought to the center. Her mother was killed by a grizzly bear in defense of her life. Oilfield workers found her, contacted Alaska Fish & Game who brought the little one to AWCC. When I first saw her I thought she was a bear, but nothing was right about that, not the color, shape or fur quality. I was delighted to find out she was a musk ox and it has been such a joy watching her grow.
Mukluk was eventually placed in an enclosure across the road from the main herd and initially they showed interest in her, but she showed none in them. That she is bigger, stronger and has sprouted her horn nubs, the decision was made to move her in with the herd.
So, just last week she was moved over. Everyone was so nervous because she had been hand raised and we all wanted to protect her. We humans were convinced she did not know she was a musk ox. Would they accept her or charge her? Would she stand by the fence not wanting to go? What was going to happen? But when she was put into the large enclosure, she took off confidently, just like she knew what she was doing. After a short encounter with Slide, the main male, when she nibbled on his horns, all was well. Now she is happily doing what musk ox do, being a part of a herd.