Muskoxen
The following day we went on a hike to a wolf den. No wolves were at home, but we saw three muskoxen in the distance.
Once again Alex led us very successfully to a close range of the three muskoxen.
Once again Alex led us very successfully to a close range of the three muskoxen.
This time the muxkoxen stayed around for about ten minutes. As on the previous occasion, they demonstrated their
discomfort with our presence by twisting their necks and rubbing themselves against the trees and kept their attention
on us.
discomfort with our presence by twisting their necks and rubbing themselves against the trees and kept their attention
on us.
We kept following the three muskoxen for about ten minutes before they finally decided they had enough of our
presence and took off over the low rolling hills. It was a great experience. For a video of the muskoxen rubbing against
the tree, please click this link. Muskoxen Video
presence and took off over the low rolling hills. It was a great experience. For a video of the muskoxen rubbing against
the tree, please click this link. Muskoxen Video
Fortunately, we did see a couple wolves as we paddled on the river. The wolf below was walking along the river. He
ducked back into the bushes and observed us for a few moments before retreating.
ducked back into the bushes and observed us for a few moments before retreating.
The most successful wildlife experience of the trip was two encounters with Muskoxen.
On our second paddle day, we stopped for lunch. As we were finishing lunch, Alex looked up river a mile and saw a
muskoxen. We all got in our canoes and paddled up river half a mile. Then we hiked a big circle around to the other side
of the muskoxen so as to have the wind coming from the right direction. By the time we hiked through the trees and
mosquitoes, we found the muskoxen napping (below left). It was a light sleep as the muskoxen awoke and saw us.
Behaving in typical muskoxen behaviour, he twitched his head in irritation at our presence. After a couple minutes he
decided he wanted no more of us and fled over the hill at a good gait.
On our second paddle day, we stopped for lunch. As we were finishing lunch, Alex looked up river a mile and saw a
muskoxen. We all got in our canoes and paddled up river half a mile. Then we hiked a big circle around to the other side
of the muskoxen so as to have the wind coming from the right direction. By the time we hiked through the trees and
mosquitoes, we found the muskoxen napping (below left). It was a light sleep as the muskoxen awoke and saw us.
Behaving in typical muskoxen behaviour, he twitched his head in irritation at our presence. After a couple minutes he
decided he wanted no more of us and fled over the hill at a good gait.
The area we paddled has the highest wolf density of any region of North America. We were hopeful that we would have
a close up experience with wolves, but that was not to be. We hiked to seven different wolf dens, but no one was at
home on each occasion. We did see lots of wolf tracks including fresh tracks in the morning around our camp site.
a close up experience with wolves, but that was not to be. We hiked to seven different wolf dens, but no one was at
home on each occasion. We did see lots of wolf tracks including fresh tracks in the morning around our camp site.
