The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-11-27

, Up BUFFALO HERD IN YELLOWSTONE PARK
VsOea>eoe aoSoss~ooe
east Of Great Slave lake in Northwest Terrific
ries. There about $50 musk-oxen still exist,
where adequate range had been set aside for
them, and the most effective protection possible
is being afforded in the hope that they may not
only maintain themselves but also increase ma
terially in numbers.
In appearance musk-oxen resemble somewhat
a small-sized buffalo, or bison, to which they
probably more nearly akin than to any
other American animal. There is distinct hump
on their shoulders although it is not so con-
spicuously developed as In the bison, and the
head is carried high when the animal is on
the alert. Their general color is dark brownish-
black, with lighter brown or cream color on
the back, and the legs are much lighter colored.
In animals of the more northern herds there is
a lighter area on the forehead. The tail is short.
There is undercoat of thick wool through
which grows a protective coat of long black
guard hairs that may sweep almost TO the
ground and that give the animal a low, stocky
appearance.
Both sexes in the musk-ox have horns which
in the mature bulls are massive, coming to-
gether at the forehead and descending on each
side Of the head, and then turning sharply up
ward and ending in sharp points The horns in
the female similar but more slender These
weapons are exceedingly effective against the
wolf. which is the musk-ox's only natural enemy.
In their ordinary movements the animals are
usually slow and deliberate, but they can de-
velop astonishing speed, especially when at
tackled The animals tend to group themselves
into herds and in defending themselves against
the attacks of the wolves they bunch up in close
formation with heads ranged outward. forming
an irregular circle. When attacked they paw
the ground below, and with lowered heads
make quick dashing charges for short distances
and then return into formation. The young and
immature animals thus defended from at
tack by the stronger and more aggressive adults.
This system of defense proved exceedingly er-
fective against all corners among natural enc
mics, but left them hOpelessly powerless against
the attacks Of men armed with firearms Hunt
thus enabled to shoot down an entire
herd, which because Of the animals gregarious
habits may represent all the musk-oxen within
many miles.
During the summer the animals feed largely
on grass and other succulent heritage which
grows in abundance during that season on their
bleak northern range. During the winter time
they feed the dried grasses and browse on
the dwarf willows They like to feed on open.
windswept ridges or on high places where the
snow is blown away, but they readily paw away
snow to reach deeply buried supplies of grass
and other feed.
Among some Of the northern tribes Of Indians
tradition existed that if any of the musk-oxen
were taken away from their native land to other
countries the rest of the herds would follow
them and disappear. Because of this belief the
natives placed every conceivable obstacle i'm the
way of explorers who wished to capture and
remove any of the live animals or even speci-
mems for scientific or educational purposes Pos
sibly the tradition arose from the fact that
when the animals have been destroyed over a
given area it is seldom restocked naturally
from other ranges.
One young is born each year. in April or May
When born the calf is already warmly clothed
with downy wool. The mother hides her young
In the shelter of protecting drift or brush and
guards it carefully against attack by natural
enemies until it is able to follow her. She will
then join the herd where the young are pro-
tected by the solcitude Of the individual mothers
and the mass formation characteristic OF the
herd.
The meat of these animals is reported tn he
of excellent quality similar to beef or buffalo
meat when properly dressed at the right season
of the year. The fact that the musk-oxen for
merly roamed the treeless coastal plains of
Alaska and the information obtained In range
investigations conducted by the biological sur
vey offer abundant evidence that the forage there
is suitable for their use. Animals kept in can
tivity have fed readily and thrived on hay and
carrots and other root crops. Hence, their do
mestication Is particularly desirable as means
OF providing meatproducing animal that can
utilize the natural forage and the kinds of cul
tivated foods that can be produced in abundance
In Alaska. Climatic conditions in Alaska are sucb
that the agricultural development Of the terri
tory must depend upon production of special
types Of animals adapted to such environment
The present attempt. therefore, to reintroduce
musk-oxen into Alaska and to domesticate them
with a view to restocking suitable ranges an
pears to be timely, and as they will subsist
largely on range forage different from that con.
sumed by reindeer and are adapted to live under
different and exceedingly rigorous conditions
they should supplement well the present rapid
development Of the reindeer industry. The tend.
ency Of the animals to bunch up during feed
ing and not to wander far away from their
established ranges should make them readily
herded and managed and well adapted to han.
ding conditions that will be necessary on the
great Alaskan ranges.
f0b Western Newspaper ua,on)