Musk Oxen

The musk ox is one of the most iconic and truly Arctic land mammals, a survivor from the last Ice Age whose appearance and adaptations reflect its ancient origins. Historically vital to early human hunting cultures, musk oxen provided meat, hides, bones, and horns for food, clothing, shelter, and tools, making them an important resource for Arctic peoples. Today, they are found naturally in high Arctic regions of northern Canada and Greenland, with additional introduced populations in parts of Europe, Russia, and Alaska. Musk oxen are uniquely adapted to extreme cold, with a long outer coat and a dense undercoat called qiviut, the warmest natural wool in the world, allowing them to withstand winter blizzards without seeking shelter. Social and defensive, they live in herds and are famous for forming protective circles with their horns facing outward to defend against predators such as Arctic wolves. Once driven close to extinction by overhunting, musk oxen are now a conservation success story, with carefully managed populations rebounding and continuing to play an important ecological and cultural role in the Arctic.

Diet and Behaviour 

Musk oxen are herbivores that feed mainly on Arctic grasses, sedges, reeds, and other above-ground plant material. During winter, when deep snow covers vegetation, they use their strong horns and front hooves to dig through the snow, creating large circular “food craters” that they actively defend from other musk oxen. Behaviourally, musk oxen are highly social and usually live in medium-sized herds, averaging 10–20 individuals, though winter groups can grow to around 100. They shift habitats seasonally, occupying lowland wet areas in summer and moving to higher, wind-swept ridges in winter where snow is thinner. Musk oxen are also well known for their defensive behaviour, forming tight circles or lines with horns facing outward to protect calves when threatened by predators such as Arctic wolves.

Breeding Cycle

The breeding cycle of musk oxen is strongly seasonal and adapted to Arctic conditions. Males reach sexual maturity at around five years of age, while females mature earlier at about two years. The breeding season peaks in mid-August, when dominant bulls compete fiercely for access to females through ritualised displays and powerful head-butting contests. After mating, females undergo a gestation period of approximately 8–9 months and give birth to a single calf in late spring or early summer, usually between May and June. Calves are born with a thick woolly coat, can stand within minutes, and are able to move with the herd within hours. They begin feeding on vegetation soon after birth but continue to nurse and are not fully weaned until about one year of age.