Animal Guide

Musk Ox

2 destinations · 2 states

Native Range: Arctic regions of North America and Greenland

The musk ox looks built for weather that would send most animals searching for shelter. A thick outer coat hangs almost to the ground, while a dense layer of fine underwool provides insulation against Arctic cold. Up close, the horns are another detail worth noticing. Both males and females have them, and the broad bases of the horns create a distinctive shape around the head. In an exhibit, musk oxen often spend their time grazing, resting, or slowly moving together, but their social behavior becomes more interesting when the group changes direction or responds to a disturbance. When threatened in the wild, they can form a tight defensive circle with the young in the center, using their horns as protection. That behavior is easier to appreciate when you see how sturdy and compact these animals are. Musk oxen feed on grasses, sedges, and other hardy Arctic plants, often pawing through snow to reach vegetation in winter. Watching one pull at a mouthful of grass or shake its shaggy coat offers a close look at an animal remarkably suited to life in one of Earth's coldest landscapes.

Where to see Musk Ox

2 destinations across 2 states

2 destinations

Alaska Zoo

Anchorage, AK

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Tacoma, WA

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