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Aurochs

Bos taurus

Mammal · family Bovidae · order Artiodactyla

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Aurochs
Photo: Buenoperez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Longest recorded life
20 years[3]

The aurochs (Bos taurus) is a mammal in the family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla[4]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure, and lists it as introduced in three states[2][5].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the aurochs a global rank of G5, which it labels Secure[2]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in the USFWS data we checked[1]. In the three states where NatureServe records it, the state rank is SNA[6]. NatureServe also lists it as introduced, not native, in those states[5].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)

Where Aurochs lives

NatureServe lists the aurochs as introduced, not native, in Hawaii, Idaho and Wyoming[5]. On GBIF, the states with the most observation records are Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Florida and Utah[7]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, so they do not show how many animals live there[7]. National Park Service lists record it in 16 park units[8].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: introduced, state rank SNAWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: introduced, state rank SNAHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[6].
Show state ranks (3 states)
StateRankMeaning
HawaiiSNANot Applicable
IdahoSNANot Applicable
WyomingSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records three habitat types for the aurochs. They are hardwood forest, hardwood woodland and shrubland or chaparral[9].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[9]

Diet and lifespan

NatureServe records adults as herbivores[10]. EltonTraits estimates the diet as 100% other plant material[11]. A female reaches sexual maturity at about 548 days[12]. Gestation lasts 277 days and the typical litter is 1 young[13][14]. The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 20 years in captivity, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[3].

Trait Value
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[3] 20 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[14] 1
Gestation or incubation[13] 277 days
Female maturity[12] 548 days (about 1.5 years)
Food habits[10] Herbivore
Active[15] diurnal

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[11]

  • 100% other plant material

When to look for it

EltonTraits lists the aurochs as diurnal, which means active during the day[15]. GBIF observation records in the United States are highest in April, June and July[16]. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[16].

January: 52 recordsJanFebruary: 54 recordsFebMarch: 90 recordsMarApril: 134 recordsAprMay: 107 recordsMayJune: 135 recordsJunJuly: 143 recordsJulAugust: 105 recordsAugSeptember: 90 recordsSepOctober: 76 recordsOctNovember: 54 recordsNovDecember: 56 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[16].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January52
February54
March90
April134
May107
June135
July143
August105
September90
October76
November54
December56

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Aurochs as present in 16 park units[8]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Utah[7]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the aurochs endangered?
NatureServe ranks it G5, Secure, and it is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[2][1].
Where does the aurochs live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as introduced in Hawaii, Idaho and Wyoming[5]. GBIF has the most observation records in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Florida and Utah, but counts follow observer effort[7].
What does the aurochs eat?
It is a herbivore[10]. EltonTraits estimates its diet as 100% other plant material[11].
How long does the aurochs live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 20 years in captivity[3]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[3].
When is the aurochs seen most often?
US GBIF records are highest in April, June and July, though this reflects when people look and report[16].

Facts and sources

  1. Aurochs is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Aurochs: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 20 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  4. Aurochs (Bos taurus) is a mammal in the family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe lists Aurochs as introduced (not native) in: Hawaii, Idaho, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe state ranks for Aurochs (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  7. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Aurochs: Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Utah. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  8. NPSpecies park lists recording Aurochs as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  9. Habitat types NatureServe records for Aurochs: Forest - hardwood, Woodland - hardwood, Shrubland/chaparral. NatureServe Explorer
  10. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  11. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% other plant material. EltonTraits 1.0
  12. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 548 days (about 1.5 years). AnAge
  13. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 277 days. AnAge
  14. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 1. AnAge
  15. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: diurnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  16. GBIF observation records of Aurochs in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Buenoperez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.