The musk ox is a stocky, shaggy mammal of the Arctic tundra and a survivor from the Ice Age. Its long outer hair and dense underwool let it live through extreme Arctic winters.
Interesting facts
- Its underwool, called qiviut, is finer than cashmere and exceptionally warm.
- Musk oxen survived the last Ice Age alongside woolly mammoths.
- Despite its name, it is more closely related to sheep and goats than to cattle.
- Males give off a strong musky smell during the rut.
- Rutting males charge and clash heads with a crack that can be heard far away.
- Musk oxen were introduced to Norway’s Dovrefjell mountains in the 1930s and 1940s.
Behaviour
Musk oxen live in herds of about 10 to 20, larger in winter. They conserve energy in winter by moving slowly and resting a lot.
Breeding and young
After about eight months, a single calf is born in spring. Calves can keep up with the herd within hours.
Threats and conservation
The species is secure, but it faces climate change, including icing events that lock food under ice, and hunting in some areas.
Where to see it
- Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway
- Banks Island, Northwest Territories, Canada
- Nome and the Seward Peninsula, Alaska
- Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
Where to see the musk ox
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