What Is… THE MUSK OX?

Another charitable cause I’ve been involved with is the protection of the musk ox. The musk ox has always been my favorite animal. That’s because when they are threatened—and their main threat is from wolves up north—they form a circle with the calves and the cows in the middle and all the males facing outward, so their horns are projecting toward their enemy. That’s how they protect the herd against attacks. No wolves can break that circle. Unless some poor musk ox in the circle decides he’s going to start running. Once one ox starts to run, they all run. And when they’re running, they are very vulnerable. Then the wolves can focus in on one and bring him down. But so long as they are committed to the circle, it is impenetrable. So long as they stand together, they are safe. There’s a message there.

This has always touched me at a gut level. Sitting on a table here at home is a soapstone carving Jean gave me of a group of male musk oxen standing in a circle with their babies in the middle.

Years ago, a television producer discovered that the musk ox was my favorite animal. They were doing some reporting up in Alaska and they said, “You know what? There’s a farm up there that raises musk oxen. Why don’t you go up and do a report?” So I did. I went up to Palmer, Alaska. While I was there, I offered to help them out. I gave them some money so they could put in new gates and fences. Now if you send in a donation to adopt a baby musk ox, you receive a certificate signed by the musk ox honorary parent, Alex Trebek.

Catching up with friends, my favorite animals.

The soapstone carving of musk oxen that Jean gave to me.