{"id":8357,"date":"2026-01-27T09:07:39","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T08:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturelfes.com\/?p=8357"},"modified":"2026-06-29T17:06:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T15:06:24","slug":"on-the-trail-of-musk-oxen-in-norway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturelfes.com\/en\/on-the-trail-of-musk-oxen-in-norway\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Trail of Musk Oxen in Norway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On the Trail of Musk Oxen in Norway<\/h1>\n\n
\"Musk<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

During my last trip to Norway (see post<\/a><\/em>), I had hesitated to go see the musk oxen, but the long drive had put me off\u2026 Still drawn to these magnificent prehistoric \u201cmoo-moos,\u201d I took advantage of the magical colors of the Norwegian tundra in autumn to go in search of them.<\/p>\n\n

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Location<\/strong>: Dovrefjell National Park, NorwaySpecies Encountered<\/strong>: Musk OxenTime<\/strong>: Late September<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Who am I?<\/h2>\n\n
\"Interpretive<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

I am the musk ox, a true survivor from prehistoric times. With my thick, woolly coat, I am perfectly adapted to nordic climates and capable of withstanding the extreme temperatures of the tundra. I am imposing : I can reach 1.5 m at the shoulder and weigh up to 400 kg. My massive crescent-shaped horns, present in both males and females, are used to defend myself and assert my place within the herd, where I live alongside other individuals. Our herds can count between 10 and 30 individuals, whose composition varies depending on the season. Like you, my young develops in my womb for 9 months, but it only stays by my side for the first two years of its life \ud83d\ude09. It is nevertheless relatively independent from the age of two months, capable of finding most of its own food, which consists mainly of lichens and tundra grasses. To communicate, we use grunts, calls and powerful snorts, which warn other herd members, signal a threat or maintain group cohesion. Once extinct in Norway, I was reintroduced into Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park, but I can also be found in Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Siberia. <\/p>\n\n

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If you\u2019re lucky enough to spot me, keep a safe distance of at least 200 meters, as I can run up to 60 km\/h.<\/div>