Chapter 2: Muskox in North Siberia

How is the muskox doing now in the northernmost parts of Siberia, where they have re-introduced it? How is it able to survive up there, in Central Taimyr and on Wrangel Island?

Sava M. Uspenski, All-Union Research Institute of Nature Conservation and Reserves, Russia, Moscow Region, USSR, reports about the muskoxen, reintroduced into northern Siberia, in Proceedings of the First International Muskox Symposium, Biological Papers of the University of Alaska, Special Report No. 4, December 1984:

"Two centers of muskox (Ovibos moschatus wardi Lidekker) habitat now exist in the USSR – the eastern Taimyr Peninsula and Wrangel Island. The total number of animals by the end of 1982 was 85. Both herds are quite viable. The formation of the herds began with the introduction of animals from Canada (10 animals from Banks Island, NWT) to the Taimyr in 1974 and from the U.S. (40 animals from Nunivak Island, Alaska) in 1975, equally divided between the two areas."

Taimyr Peninsula

"Observations of the Taimyr herd are carried out by the Research Institute of Agriculture of the Extreme North located at Norilsk (Yakushin 1978, 1982). The herd inhabits the area east of Lake Taimyr (74-75°N) in the southern part of the arctic tundra subzone. Situated to the north, the Byrranga Mountains isolate the area from the cold arctic winds. The muskoxen are released in this area, because of the isolating effect of the mountains, the continental climate, the small amount of snow and the almost absolute absence of thaws and black ice, sufficient amount and accessibility of food, and small numbers of the main food competitor – the caribou. Muskoxen have inhabited the Taimyr in relatively recent times, perhaps 100 to 200 years ago (Vereschagin 1959).

"The imported animals were placed in enclosures. The initial area was 95 ha, and by 1979 it was enlarged to more than 2500 ha. In winter the animals grazed in stands of willow and on sedge tundra on slopes and plateaus. During this part of the year, their movement was limited. After melting of the snow, they utilized almost the whole area of the enclosures, and during both day and night, they sometimes covered a distance of 8 to 10 km. The depth of the snow cover in their grazing areas in winter reached 15 to 30 cm, the density of the snow being 0.20 to 0.33 g/cm³. In depressions in the snow surface, it was not deeper than 15 to 17 cm and the density of the snow was 0.19 to 0.23 g/cm³. The alternating grazing periods and periods of rest were greater in length in summer than in the other seasons.

"Calving took place from 15 April through 25 June, with the peak at the end of April and during the first half of May. The beginning of calving here coincides with severe frosts (to –30° and –40°C)." S. M. Uspenski (1984:12)

Wrangel Island

"Twenty muskoxen, brought to Wrangel Island from Alaska on 17 April 1975, were kept in an enclosure of about 1.5 ha up to 7 May of the same year. ... In March to April 1979 and following years, the muskoxen occurred on the plain on the northern part of the island, where the depth of snow cover did not exceed 20 to 30 cm.

"The muskoxen were released on Wrangel Island, because the winter climate is continental. The snow never melts in winter, and there are no ice-crusted grounds, there is little snow and broken ground, and thus favorable foraging conditions prevail. Wrangel Island belongs to the arctic tundra subzone. Its eastern part is characterized by sparse, low, widely spaced vegetation. In the southern and central parts of the island, representing the southern strip of the arctic tundra, the vegetation is mainly sedge and moss tundra. In the central part of the island, in mountain valleys and intermountain hollows, areas of extrazonal vegetation occur, which are characteristic of the northern strip of subarctic tundra, with willow-beds 1 m tall. The vast plain, situated in the north of the island, is considered by geobotanists, to be a part of the northern strip of the arctic tundra. ... According to our calculations, a herd of several thousand muskoxen could inhabit the island, without competing with the reindeer." S. M. Uspenski (1984:13)

Victor V. Rapota, Scientific Agricultural Institute of the Far North, Norilsk, Russia, explains about the "Feeding ecology of the Taimyr Muskoxen" in Biol. Pap. Univ. Alaska Spec. Rep. No. 4:75-80 (1984): "Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) were reintroduced to the Taimyr Peninsula in 1974 and 1975. The animals were confined in enclosures near Lake Taimyr for 5 years, where their herd structure, reproduction and feeding habits were observed. During 1974 and 1974, 30 muskoxen were brought from Canada and Alaska to the Taimyr Peninsula (Yakushkin 1979). Eighty-three muskoxen now inhabit the northeastern region of the peninsula." Rapota, V. V. (1984:75). – Comment: At the end of the year 2000, about 1500-3000 muskoxen are living now on Taimyr (Dick Mol, pers. communication).

"In early winter, (October to November), when the snow cover is not deep (10 to 20 cm) and is of low density, muskoxen easily move the snow with their muzzle or rake the snow with their forelegs, to obtain forage at ground level. With the beginning of the middle winter season, muskoxen graze on tussock tundras. ... Under the moss layer, which includes dead vascular plant material, there are rhizomes, new tillers and green shoots of monocotyledonous plants (sedges, grasses, and rushes), which are highly nutritious forage.

"In middle winter (December to March) muskoxen obtain forage from tussock tundras from deep holes or feeding craters, by breaking the snow and moss cover. Results of a similar foraging pattern (patches of moss and bare peat) were noted by Bos (1966) on Nunivak Island. Areas of collective feeding craters may be varied from 1 to many square meters, and this depends upon the area of Salix pulchra association. Muskoxen graze on tussock tundra, until the depth of the snow cover exceeds 20 to 30 cm and snow density exceeds 0.25 g/cm³.

"Late winter (March to April) is a critical period for muskoxen. It is characterized by frequent snowfalls and the reduction of accessibility of forage. Strong winds promote redistribution of drifted snow, with greater accumulation on tussock tundras, but unproductive spot-medallion tussock and desert pavement tundras are generally blown free of deep snow cover. At this season, muskoxen are obliged, to feed on forage of low nutritional value, such as twigs, dry leaves and catkins of willows, Dryas spp. Shoots, and lichens, as these, may be easily obtained from small feeding craters.

"Spring season (June) is characterized by rapid snow melt. ... During snow-free seasons and in early winter, the most important vegetation types for muskoxen are arctic meadows and wet tundra complex, but in the other seasons, low willow-sedge-cottongrass-moss tussock tundras and sedge-dryas-moss spot-medallion tussock tundras are important. The optimal density of the muskox population in the vicinity of Lake Taimyr is estimated at 1 animal per 230 ha, including 10% of the mentioned deficit tussock tundras." V.V. Rapota (1984:76, 78) – That is 1 muskox on 2.3 km².

"The region, investigated, is characterized by a pronounced continental climate: the annual amplitude of temperature extremes in some years reaches 35°C (+28° and –7°C). The average temperature in June is +6.5°C, in January –33.2°C, while the average annual temperature is –16.2°C. The average annual wind speed is 6 m/sec." V.V. Rapota (1984:79) 

Herd of muskoxen in defence circle, Bracebridge Inlet, Bathurst Island, N.W.T., July 1961. Photo by Donald Thomas. From: J. S. Tener, Muskoxen in Canada (1965). Canadian Wildlife Service