PALMER, Alaska (AP) – One of Alaska's cherished Mother’s Day traditions invites families to connect with musk oxen, ancient survivors of the ice age. The Musk Ox Farm, located in Palmer—approximately an hour’s drive north of Anchorage—opens its doors on Sunday to celebrate mothers with complimentary admission and a daisy for all moms attending the event.

Inside the farm, visitors can see 75 members of the musk ox herd, including three young calves that are just beginning to adjust to their environment. A notable attraction is an old bull named Trebek, named after the late “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, who was a significant benefactor of the facility.

“Who doesn’t want to celebrate Mother’s Day with a musk ox mom and the most adorable calf you’re ever going to find in your life?” Mark Austin, the farm’s executive director, commented. Mother’s Day marks the beginning of the summer season for the farm, which has been part of Alaska's landscape since its inception in 1964 and relocated to Palmer in 1986.

The relocation to Palmer was strategic, providing better access to grazing land compared to more remote tundra communities and allowing for educational programs at the farm. Austin noted, “When we opened the doors here, we started doing Mother’s Day as a grand opening every year,” emphasizing the importance of this tradition paired with the presence of cute, newborn musk oxen.

The event has become a staple in the community, attracting more than 1,500 visitors annually and spanning over three generations. Austin stated, “It’s a huge, just kind of rite of passage for a lot of people. If we ever talked about not doing it, there’d be a riot.”

Musk oxen are fascinating remnants of the ice age, once roaming alongside saber-toothed tigers and mastodons. “They were the ones that lived,” Austin pointed out about these resilient creatures. Each musk ox possesses a unique personality, described as crafty, smart, and inquisitive. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game notes that mature musk ox bulls can stand about 5 feet tall and weigh up to 800 pounds, while females, or cows, are slightly smaller, around 4 feet and 500 pounds.

These stocky animals feature long, thick hair and distinctive horns, with the Inupiat referring to them as “itomingmak,” meaning “the animal with skin like a beard.” Historically, musk oxen roamed widely across northern Europe, Asia, Greenland, and North America. However, by the 1920s, the last survivors were found in Greenland and Canada.

Efforts to reintroduce musk oxen to Alaska began in 1934 when 34 individuals were brought from Greenland to Fairbanks. This initiative has contributed to a wild population that now numbers around 5,000 across Alaska.

The nonprofit Musk Ox Farm welcomes donations from visitors on Mother’s Day. While some guests are particularly eager to meet the baby musk oxen, others generously contribute, with some leaving donations as high as $100. “We do like to see the donation, but we truly offer this as an event to the community, as a thank you,” Austin remarked, underlining the farm’s commitment to giving back to the community.