Muskox herd, on the defence
In most
valleys there is muskox herd consisting of a big dominant bull, 5-8 mature
females, 2-3 calfs and 4-5 adolescents, male and female. The number of mature
females seem to depends on the bulls managerial talents, the bigger the bull,
the more females.
Approaching a muskox herd
is not without risk. The herd forms a half-circle and the dominant bull stands
in front. You can approach them up to 200 meters, if they let you as they
usually already run off at a larger distance. When you get closer, the dominant
bull starts snoring and digging its hooves
into the ground you better leave if you do not want to be chased off or
even thrown in the air by its massive head and horns.
Muskox
bull.
Waking up
in the morning with a muskox herd [1] of 10-14 animals lying close to our tent
is a unique experience. At night the herd
may decide to seek shelter in one of their favorite, protected valleys
and happens to settled close to our tents. Our preferences are similar, we
always try to camp in a sheltered, grassy flat spot and preferably close to a
pond.
You can
take your time to observe them through a tent opening as they have poor
eye-sight. As soon as you get out of the tent, you loose the camouflage of the tents. They will spot
you and react in a panic as we have the size and movements of wolves in ambush.
They quickly run off at an impressive speed, preferably up-hill, just like
rabbits.
The
stampede led by the dominant bull lasts only a few minutes and they regroup
into a defensive half-circle higher up.
Lonely
bulls [1] can be approached closer, up to 50 meters.
Fred,
the lonely muskox bull on Whitsunday Bay, Eastern Axel Heiberg Island.
Closer they
will first look at you, but at 20 m they will also starts snoring and digging
their hooves into the ground. Time to
quickly take the closest picture and leave unless you are a Canadian 'Jackass'
and want a picture being chased like Steve [1].
Skeletons
of muskox are common [1]. The tough skull and horns
preserves best [1].
A small heap in a sheltered valley with exceptionally high and healthy
grass tends to have a muskox skull in it core which serves as a fertilizer.
Arctic wolves chasing muskox. Photograph by Jim Brandenbug.