PALMER, Alaska (AP) — It has become a beloved Mother’s Day tradition in Alaska to get an intimate look at creatures that have lived since the Ice Age.
On Sundays, all mothers can receive a daisy and enjoy complimentary entry to the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, located roughly one hour’s drive north of Anchorage. Upon entering, visitors will be able to observe 75 musk oxen, among which are three recently born calves learning to stand. An additional attraction is an elderly bull called Trebek, who was named after the late “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, a supporter of this site.
“Who wouldn’t want to celebrate Mother’s Day with a musk ox mother and the cutest calf you’ll ever see in your lifetime?” asked Mark Austin, the farm’s executive director.
Mother’s Day marks the traditional beginning of the summer season for the farm, a venture with origins dating back to 1964 across multiple sites until it relocated to Palmer in 1986.
That relocation placed it within Alaska’s restricted road network, offering better access to pastureland compared to Arctic towns. It also enabled integrating more educational programs at the farm site, which stands overshadowed by the towering Talkeetna and Chugach mountain ranges.
“When we launched this place, we made each Mother’s Day celebration a major kickoff event annually,” Austin stated.
He referred to it as a natural choice, honoring mothers with adorable newborn baby musk oxen on the premises. This year, three baby muskoxes have made their debut and are currently on exhibit, with potentially more births still to come.
Mother’s Day sees the highest foot traffic with over 1,500 visitors coming through. This custom has been passed down across three generations.
It’s quite significant; almost like a ritual for many,” Austin stated. “If we even considered skipping it, there would be an uproar.
Muskoxen are relics of the Ice Age.
“They were scurrying about alongside saber-toothed tigers and mastodons, and those are the creatures that survived,” Austin commented. He also mentioned that each member of the herd possesses distinct personalities, describing them as cunning, intelligent, and curious beings.
The modern-day animal most closely related to them would be Arctic goats. Adult male musk oxen can reach heights of 5 feet (approximately 1.5 meters) and may weigh up to 800 pounds (around 360 kilograms). In contrast, mature females, known as cows, are considerably smaller, standing around 4 feet (roughly 1.2 meters) tall and weighing up to 500 pounds (about 230 kilograms), according to information provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s website.
The creatures described on the site are sturdy, long-coated beings featuring a subtle bump at their shoulders, possessing brief tails and horns. The Inupiat refer to muskox as “itomingmak,” translating to “the creature whose hide resembles a beard” due to its lengthy fur that almost drags along the earth.
Mammals once traversed vast areas of northern Europe, Asia, Greenland, and North America until their populations started declining. By the 1920s, the final survivors could only be found in Greenland and Canada.
Efforts to reintroduce the musk ox to Alaska started in 1934, when 34 were delivered to Fairbanks from Greenland. Since then, the wild population has grown to about 5,000, located throughout the nation’s largest state, Austin said.
The charitable farm invites contributions from guests on Sundays. While some individuals may head directly towards the young musk oxen, others might place a $100 bill down at the reception area right away.
We genuinely enjoy seeing the donations, but our primary aim with these events is to express gratitude to the community,” Austin explained. “This allows us to return the favor.
Mark Thiessen, The Associated Press