Observations on maternal behaviour in Muskosen, Ovibos moschatus, during river crossing

Abstract

On two occasions, a female Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) guided her calf across the Goodsir River (Bathurst Island, Northwest Territories) in full flood, by placing herself on the downstream side of her offspring and encouraging it to swim. Although maternal care behaviours have been documented in this species in relation to predator defence and protection from the elements, this is the First record of maternal behaviour during river crossing.