muskox near Nome AK 116A4734
Besides all the amazing bird life around Nome, there's some amazing animals too. It's hard to believe these muskox are for real when you see them standing out on the arctic tundra. They are one of the lucky few Pleistocene megafauna species that survived after the most recent ice age ended. They graze on the tundra's abundant mosses, lichens, grasses and dwarf willows. Local residents visit willow thickets where the very fine and soft underfur from the muskox gets snagged, and they knit that "qiviut" into warm winter clothing. Muskox are famous for their defensive behavior, and when the herd feels threatened the adults form a ring around the calves with their heads and horns facing outward. I wouldn't want to try and enter that ring😄.
muskox near Nome AK 116A4734
Besides all the amazing bird life around Nome, there's some amazing animals too. It's hard to believe these muskox are for real when you see them standing out on the arctic tundra. They are one of the lucky few Pleistocene megafauna species that survived after the most recent ice age ended. They graze on the tundra's abundant mosses, lichens, grasses and dwarf willows. Local residents visit willow thickets where the very fine and soft underfur from the muskox gets snagged, and they knit that "qiviut" into warm winter clothing. Muskox are famous for their defensive behavior, and when the herd feels threatened the adults form a ring around the calves with their heads and horns facing outward. I wouldn't want to try and enter that ring😄.