MUSK OX, Ovibos moschatus 



(Umikmak) 



Range. — Arctic Coast and islands, formerly 

 ^vest to Point Barrow, Cape Dyer, and Kotzebue 

 Sound; now largely restricted to arctic Canada 

 and Greenland. 



Hah/fat. — Tundra and well-vegetated open 

 lands beyond the limit of trees, at or near sea 

 level ; in winter to barren uplands. 



Races in Alaska. — The last musk ox native to 

 Alaska, of the typical race moschafuA, was believed 

 killed west of Point Barrow in 1865. The herd 

 now established on Nunivak Island is of the east- 

 em race, wardi. 



Introduction.'^. — In 1930, a herd of ?A nnisk oxen 

 captured in Greenland were brought to the vicin- 

 ity of Fairbanks. The remaining 31 of this group 

 were moved to Nunivak Island in 1935-36, where 

 tliey increased, despite competition witli the intro- 

 duced reindeer. In 1960 the Nunivak herd uum- 

 I)ered i256, including 57 calves; in March 1963 this 

 herd numbered 360. 



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