Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center rescues baby musk ox
By Ethan Tyler
Special to the Turnagain Times
Anchorage is seeing its fair share of tourists coming through the Ted Stevens International Airport, but the passenger that came in from Deadhorse Wednesday, June 15, is different.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center interns and management were moving quickly to ready the Center for its newest arrival–a baby musk oxen–that lost its mother in Deadhorse and rescued by the staff at the facility where it was found. The staff of AWCC have been preparing an enclosure and ensuring they are up to date with appropriate feed and management techniques for this new animal.
AWCC received a report from BP staff at the facility yesterday morning that a Musk Oxen calf had wandered onto the facility, and was thought to be orphaned. The facility staff worked with AWCC and Department of Fish and Game who declared the animal orphaned, and gave the staff at the facility permission to take possession of the animal. Upon doing so, the facility staff made arrangements through BP and Shared Services to get the animal a one way ticket on a flight out of Prudhoe Bay to Anchorage.
At around 10 p.m., the BP staff disembarked the plane and met with the staff from AWCC, where AWCC took possession of the animal. AWCC Executive Director, Mike Miller, Director of Education, Kelly Miller, and lead intern, Kristen Peters took the baby musk ox to Pet Emergency on Dowling Rd, where Dr. Kathy Doty looked it over and gave it a clean bill of health. Kristen Peters of AWCC will be the lead in caring for the animal, and is in contact with the professionals at UAF's Large Animal Research.
The Calf will stay in seclusion for the time being, as it has an underdeveloped immune system. When able, AWCC will allow the public to view the calf–probably later in the summer–and eventually the animal will be introduced into the existing herd at the Wildlife Center.
