It was discovered near Fairbanks in 1979. A mineral called vivianite gave the skin a bluish appearance, and the animal came to be known as Blue Babe. The Ice Age mummy was examined by a paleontologist. He estimated that it lived about 35,000 years ago. It was an old male that died in winter, as suggested by its winter underfur.
Winter is a hard time when many animals die of starvation.
Part of the bison had been eaten, probably by a scavenger that found it lying dead. The paleontologist was surprised to discover plentiful fat under the animal s skin. He studied scratch marks on the bison. They were similar to wounds African lions leave when killing buffalo. A chip from a tooth was found under the skin.