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Muskox

Ovibos moschatus

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.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
1 state[3]
Longest recorded life
27.4 years[4]

The muskox is a hoofed mammal in the cattle family, Bovidae[5]. NatureServe lists it as native in one US state, Alaska, and ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[3][2].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the muskox a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. The muskox is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe also gives it a state conservation rank in Alaska, shown in the table on this page[7]. NatureServe also notes that numbers dropped a lot on the mainland in the past and have come back in some areas under protection[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern

Where Muskox lives

NatureServe lists the muskox as native in one US state or territory, and that is Alaska[3]. Online observation records on GBIF also show up in other states such as California, Kentucky, Washington and New Jersey[9]. Those records follow where observers are active, not where the animal lives or how many there are[9].

Alaska: native, state rank S4AKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth 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: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (1 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlaskaS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records tundra as the habitat type for the muskox[10]. Its notes describe areas with plenty of plants, such as sedge slopes, valleys and thickets of willow and birch[11]. In summer it feeds in wet meadows[11]. In winter it uses low meadows or ridges swept by wind[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

The muskox is a herbivore, so it eats only plants[12]. In summer it eats mostly sedges, grasses and willows[13]. In winter it eats mainly sedges or woody plants[13]. One estimate puts its diet at 90% plant material other than fruit and 10% fruit[14]. NatureServe records a typical length of 246 cm (97 in) and a typical adult weight of 405 kg (893 lb)[15][16]. Females usually have one calf at a time[17]. Pregnancy lasts 258 days[18]. Females reach breeding age at about 3 years[19]. The oldest known muskox in the AnAge records lived in captivity, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 246 cm (97 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 405 kg (893 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 27.4 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[17] 1
Gestation or incubation[18] 258 days
Female maturity[19] 1,096 days (about 3.0 years)
Food habits[12] Herbivore
Active[20] crepuscular, diurnal
Migration[21] local migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[14]

  • 90% other plant material
  • 10% fruit

When to look for it

The muskox is crepuscular and diurnal, which means it is active around dawn and dusk as well as during the day[20]. NatureServe calls it a local migrant, and its notes say it moves only short distances between winter and summer areas[21][22]. Breeding happens in late summer, and calves are born in spring[23]. GBIF observation records in the United States peak in June, July and August[24]. That shows when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].

January: 2 recordsJanFebruary: 15 recordsFebMarch: 16 recordsMarApril: 6 recordsAprMay: 68 recordsMayJune: 302 recordsJunJuly: 101 recordsJulAugust: 73 recordsAugSeptember: 48 recordsSepOctober: 8 recordsOctNovember: 4 recordsNovDecember: 2 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[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January2
February15
March16
April6
May68
June302
July101
August73
September48
October8
November4
December2

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Muskox as present in 5 park units[25]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Alaska, California, Kentucky, Washington, New Jersey[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the muskox endangered?
No. The muskox is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the muskox live in the United States?
NatureServe lists it as native in one US state or territory, Alaska[3]. Its habitat type is tundra[10].
What does the muskox eat?
It is a herbivore[12]. Summer meals are mostly sedges, grasses and willows[13]. Winter meals are mostly sedges or woody plants[13].
How big is a muskox?
NatureServe records a typical length of 246 cm (97 in) and a typical adult weight of 405 kg (893 lb)[15][16].
How long does a muskox live?
The oldest known muskox in the AnAge records lived in captivity[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Muskox 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 Muskox: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Muskox as native in 1 US state or territory: Alaska. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 27.4 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) is a mammal in the family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for Muskox (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on trend for Muskox. NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Muskox: Alaska, California, Kentucky, Washington, New Jersey. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Muskox: Tundra. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Muskox. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Muskox. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 90% other plant material, 10% fruit. EltonTraits 1.0
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 246 cm (97 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 405 kg (893 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 1. AnAge
  18. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 258 days. AnAge
  19. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,096 days (about 3.0 years). AnAge
  20. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: crepuscular, diurnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  21. NatureServe migration category for Muskox: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe notes on migration for Muskox. NatureServe Explorer
  23. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Muskox. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of Muskox in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  25. NPSpecies park lists recording Muskox as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

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.