Photo Of The Week

September 30, 2023

This is a featured photo of the week. I will try and update this weekly with a favorite photo.

  • Common Name: Muskox
  • Scientific Name: Ovibos moschatus
  • Date Taken: July 2nd, 1997
  • Location: Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Northwest Territories, Canada
  • Photographer: Kathy Richardson

  • Muskox are native to Greenland, the Arctic
    Islands, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
    There are several introduced populations in
    other Arctic locations. There are approximately
    85,000 residing in Canada. In Canada they have
    been protected since 1917. Their only predator
    (other than the Inuit) is the Arctic Wolf.
    Muskox survive the Arctic winter due to their
    thick wooly coat, which has two layers: an
    inner wooly layer and an outer hairy layer.
    In midsummer they lose their wooly layer, and
    can assume a shaggy appearance. Both males
    and females have large horns. Their front feet
    are larger than the back, and are used for
    breaking through the crust of snow in the
    winter to forage for willows, grasses and
    sedges. Calves are born from April to June.






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