Musk Ox and Reindeer Farms

Saturday, June 14th

Unfortunately, another gray misty day here in Anchorage, but we decided to go ahead with our plans for the day.

We drove over to Palmer, Alaska to visit the Musk Ox Farm.  What a great tour.  James Teal, many years ago tried domesticating Musk Ox on his farm in Vermont.

Our guide explaining the history of the farm...note the stash of just-picked dandelions in her apron!

Since that was a success, he moved them to the Alaska area and set up a co-op with the Alaskan women to make garments with the qivuit that is combed from the Musk Ox once a year.  It is then spun into a yarn that is so soft, yet very warm and ideal for those allergic to wool.  It is also extremely durable.  The patterns are beautiful and treasures for those who have them.

The Musk Ox are gentle and loved eating dandelions from our hands.  The co-op has been extremely successful.

Katie, our guide, offered some "greens" to a female musk ox.

Mothers and new-borns!

The musk ox is much smaller in stature than we expected!

 

After visiting that farm, we continued on to the reindeer farm.

Going into the gift shop to check in at the reindeer farm.

One of the two herds of reindeer--lots of babies!

There we saw elk, reindeers chickens, bunnies.  Found out that caribou are just reindeers raised in the wild.  They were so happy to have us giving them food.  It was a step back in time to childhood feeding reindeer.  Since they only have lower teeth in the front, they can not bite you.

Rich gives a doe a hand of pellets while Betty is surrounded!

Note the two bulls with the big racks of antlers!

If we run out of pellets in our hands, they graze the ground for ones that have dropped out!

 After a brief stop for lunch at a local cafe (?) we headed down the Kenai peninsula to see the bore tide at Beluga Point.  After waiting there for a little while, we realized we had figured the tide change wrong so headed back to campground.  Weather was acceptable enough for us to sit outside for happy hour.