Musk ox sighted in Alberta

Xelebes · Jun 20, 2012

If you don't know, Musk ox is a tundra beast. They don't adapt to forest life well, which is what they must do before they get to the grasslands. However, there seems to be a herd heading south and we don't know why. They're encountering wolves, grizzlies and wolverines for their first time and they appear to be doing okay. The question is: why are they moving south?

FYI: The 60th parallel, roughly the area where the musk ox is sighted, is the most southern the musk ox have been sighted. There was a sighting of a musk ox in Fort Resolution on the 62nd or 63rd parallel.

CBC Article

William Haskins · Jun 20, 2012

Xelebes said:
The question is: why are they moving south?

if evolution has taught us anything, it is either to feed or to fuck.

Roger J Carlson · Jun 20, 2012

better cell reception?

kayleamay · Jun 20, 2012

They're clearly trying to distance themselves for the Nazi base in Antartica.

Bird of Prey · Jun 20, 2012

Could be the magnetic poles are shifting. . . .

Zoombie · Jun 20, 2012

Changes in climate?

icerose · Jun 20, 2012

Sounds like they're adapting rather than dying out. It will be interesting to find out how well they do.

muravyets · Jun 20, 2012

It seems they will have to adapt, because apparently, the tundra may be disappearing.

http://www.livescience.com/20704-arctic-tundra-trees-shrubs.html

Priene · Jun 21, 2012

Xelebes said:
They're encountering wolves, grizzlies and wolverines

I read that as 'werewolves'. Wild country, Canada.

whistlelock · Jun 21, 2012

They're trying to take our jobs!

mccardey · Jun 21, 2012

Yeah - but - it's just the one musk ox, right? As far as the article goes, it's just one musk ox...? So what I'm thinking is some soccer mum was doing the carpool and sat her ox up on the roof of her car for a moment just while she searched for the keys and then she drove off...

I've done that.

Not with a musk ox.

With a kangaroo. But still...

veinglory · Jun 21, 2012

I am not sure wandering around in search of food is "adapting". It is at best "attempting to adapt (outcome not yet known)" a.k.a. "being stressed".

Roger J Carlson · Jun 21, 2012

Xelebes said:
The question is: why are they moving south?

Probably for much the same reasons their ancestors moved North.

veinglory · Jun 21, 2012

Roger J Carlson said:
Probably for much the same reasons their ancestors moved North.

iMHO, probably not. The moved north to fill a certain niche. In absence of that niche they may move around a bit and then go extinct. Evolution doesn't normally work on a time scale of years or decades. The won't suddenly become forest animals just because the tundra is stuffed up..

mccardey · Jun 21, 2012

Clearly it's a male musk ox. 'Cause otherwise he'd stop and ask for directions, right...?

Roger J Carlson · Jun 21, 2012

veinglory said:
iMHO, probably not. The moved north to fill a certain niche. In absence of that niche they may move around a bit and then go extinct. Evolution doesn't normally work on a time scale of years or decades. The won't suddenly become forest animals just because the tundra is stuffed up..

Most likely their ancestors had adapted to ice age conditions farther south and moved north with the retreating glaciers.

veinglory · Jun 21, 2012

Exactly. And they are not moving south now because its colder there and well supplied with frozen tundra.

mccardey · Jun 21, 2012

veinglory said:
Exactly. And ~~they~~ it ~~are~~ is not moving south now because its colder there and well supplied with frozen tundra.

Fixed it for ya

Xelebes · Jun 21, 2012

mccardey said:
Fixed it for ya

Well, to be fair, he was also referencing the sighting in Fort Resolute.

mccardey · Jun 21, 2012

Xelebes said:
Well, to be fair, he was also referencing the sighting in Fort Resolute.

Oh, yes. Quite right.

Last year, a herd was spotted near Fort Resolution, N.W.T., south of Great Slave Lake.

My bad

Beg your pardon, veinglory...

Maxinquaye · Jun 21, 2012

I wonder if the musk oxe objects to being called a cow when it's a big goat. ^^

Torgo · Jun 21, 2012

May the ox be ever in your favour.

Xelebes · Jun 21, 2012

Archerbird said:
Oh cool. And good question. Here's another question; can they be tamed and ridden on?

If not, what are they still doing there?

There are some tame muskox but I don't think they would make terribly good riding beasts - they only rise up to the belly. Tame muskox are mostly used for their hair.

Archerbird · Jun 21, 2012

Xelebes said:
Tame muskox are mostly used for their hair.

What is the hair used for?

Xelebes · Jun 21, 2012

Archerbird said:
What is the hair used for?

Clothing. Very expensive though. 40 to 80 dollars for 30 g.

Musk ox sighted in Alberta

Delerium ex Ennui

poet

Moderator In Name Only

I'm on the phone.

Benefactor Member

Dragon of the Multiverse

Lost in School Work

Old revolutionary

Out to lunch

Whiskey Rebel

volitare nequeo

Moderator In Name Only

volitare nequeo

Moderator In Name Only

volitare nequeo

Delerium ex Ennui

That cheeky buggerer

Formerly Phantom of Krankor.

Delerium ex Ennui

Nightowl

Delerium ex Ennui