The muskox (Ovibos moschatus) in Sweden: update on a small wild population with an uncertain fate

• Published in: Polar research Vol. 44; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Winter, Rachel M., Åsberg, Angelica, Ericsson, Mats, Jelk, Lina, Larsson, Jens, Hansson, Sophia V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spånga Open Academia 01.08.2025; Norwegian Polar Institute
• Subjects: 20th century; arctic ecology; Climate change; ecosystem conservation; Environmental conditions; Environmental management; Foraging behavior; Genetic diversity; Habitat selection; Habitats; Herbivores; Ovibos; Ovibos moschatus; Population; Population number; Population studies; Populations; Precipitation; rewilding; scandinavia; shrubification; Summer; Temperature; Wildlife management; Winter; Canada; Sweden; United States > US; Norway; Alaska; Scandinavia; Greenland; Russia
• ISSN: 0800-0395; 1751-8369
• DOI: 10.33265/polar.v44.11094

Once widespread across the Holarctic region, the iconic and pre-historic muskox (Ovibos moschatus) has seen a significant range reduction, with endemic populations now restricted to North America and scattered populations introduced throughout Eurasia. In 1971, five individuals from the introduced Norwegian population migrated across the border into Sweden and re-established a natural Swedish muskox population in Härjedalen. While the size of this population has since fluctuated, up-to-date knowledge on the population size and status has been missing. In the summer of 2024, we therefore conducted a population survey and estimated the current population size to eight individuals. Although the population remains small and despite the absence of a formal wildlife management plan, the presence of a sub-adult and calf still shows an ongoing reproduction and suggests a viability and long-term local continuity of muskoxen in the area. Compared to the well-studied populations in North America and Greenland, little is known about the foraging ecology, habitat selection and ecological role of muskoxen in Scandinavia. Synthesizing published research from other regions, we explore the potential ecological services of the Swedish muskoxen, such as mitigating climate-induced changes like shrubification. We also report the results of our count of the population—eight individuals, including a calf and a sub-adult—and discuss its future prospects in Sweden, arguing that the environmental conditions in Scandinavia are indeed capable of supporting muskox populations.