This Arctic Tank Fights Wolves, Snowstorms… and Wins

On a fateful summer day of 1964, in Norway's majestic Dover Mountains, a band of five inquisitive locals stumbled upon an odd sight. A lone and rather peculiar-looking bull. Intrigued by this unexpected encounter, their curiosity got the better of them, and they ventured closer to the creature. In the midst was 73-year-old farmer O. P. Stolen, who, it seemed, was the most inquisitive of them all, inspecting the animal with keen interest. However, what followed was The animal, true to its nature, felt threatened and launched a ferocious and unpredictable attack, catching Stolen off guard with a forceful blow to the back. Initially, Stolen appeared unfazed, and even attempted to defend himself by grabbing a stone to shoo the beast away. But this brave act turned tragic, as in a fatal turn of events, the bull charged once more, this time delivering a devastating blow to Stolen's front, propelling his body several feet through the air and down a slope, where he met his untimely end. This untamed beast of the north was none other than the formidable muskox, the titan of the arctic. The mighty muskox, or ovibos muscatus, is a hoofed animal within the Bovidae family that roams across the lands of Alaska, Greenland, Canada, Russia, and Norway. Known by the Inuit as umingmak, meaning the bearded one, these creatures have quite the diverse range of names. Some indigenous names translate to ugly moose and ugly bison, highlighting their resemblance to these animals. Surprisingly though, their closest living relative seem to be gorons, which are small sheep-like undulates. The musk in muskox refers to the potent ethereal scent emitted by the males during the mating season. This eye-watering aroma, however, isn't actually a musk because it doesn't come from a musk gland, but rather from a male's propuscial gland found in his nether regions. These majestic creatures, alongside the bison and the pronghorn, were among the select few survivors from the Ice Age to endure into the present day. Standing at about 5 feet at the withers, male muskoxen can tip the scales between 600 to 900 pounds, with some hefty specimens in captivity boasting weights of up to a whopping 1,430 pounds. In contrast, females are smaller, standing at an average of about 4 feet in height and weighing between 400 to 600 pounds. Despite their substantial size, these creatures sport a modest tail, often hidden beneath their long fur. Thriving in the harsh arctic realm, the muskox faces formidable challenges. Its main adversaries are arctic wolves, whose predation is responsible for as much as half of the species' mortality rate. Other occasional predators, like mainly predators of calves or infirm adults, can include grizzly bears, polar bears, and wolverines. This herd of muskox is aware of the danger lurking, as three cunning and relentless hungry wolves approach from different sides. Aiming to break the unity of the herd and create chaos, hoping to isolate a vulnerable target, yet the stalwart males of the group take charge, leading their kin in a determined defensive stance. Despite the wolves' astute tactics, the herd remains resolute as they ascend to higher ground, seeking safety and maintaining their unity. As they reach the summit, an adult male muskox charges at the wolves, asserting the herd's dominance and driving the predators away. Arctic wolves especially target the muskox's vulnerable calves and weaker adults. They know that facing an adult muskox head-on is perilous, as a single kick from these mighty creatures can inflict severe injury or even death. Even a lone grizzly bear, renowned for its strength and prowess, would think twice before challenging a united herd of adult muskoxen. This extraordinary defense is no mere coincidence. Nature has endowed the muskox with a suite of remarkable attributes to fend off predators. Their eyes, with horizontally oriented pupils, shield them from the blinding glare of the sun or snow, aiding in their vigilance against potential threats. Then there are their sturdy hooves. These trusty tools serve not only as a means of defense, but also as essential tools for survival. Tough and robust, their hooves help the muskox kick and fend off threats, while also breaking through ice, enabling them to traverse the terrain and dig up vegetation in their search for sustenance. These resilient creatures have quite a varied palate. Grasses, arctic willows, woody plants, lichens, and mosses all make their way into the muskox's diet. When the dining is good, they favor the juiciest and most nutritious grasses available. As winter strikes, willows become their go-to meal. Their lips are notably muscular and well supplied with veins and arteries, aiding in grasping food and maintaining warmth by facilitating a steady flow of warm blood. Another weapon in the muskox's arsenal against predators comes in the form of their impressive horns. Both males and females sport two long, curved horns, with the males boasting larger ones. This pair of horns creates a striking browband on the head, called boss, which is again larger and thicker in males than that of females. But these impressive appendages aren't just for defense, they also play a crucial role in asserting dominance and fending off competitors. Dominance is vital for securing the best resources, especially in harsh winters when even a small patch of grass is a valuable commodity. To maintain their status, muskox and bulls have various strategies. One tactic is the Russian Bun, where a dominant bull charges a subordinate, giving it the chance to retreat. It's not uncommon for dominant bulls to treat their subordinate counterparts as they would cows, casually kicking them with their forelegs, a behavior usually reserved for mating rituals. However, a subordinate bull can challenge this hierarchy by charging at a dominant bull, particularly during mating season when dominant bulls compete for control of the herd, forming harems of around six or seven cows and their offspring. During these confrontations, the fighting bulls engage in a ritualistic display, rubbing their preorbital glands against their legs while bellowing loudly before showcasing their impressive horns. Spotting another male encroaching on his turf, this determined muskox charges through the snow, aiming for a head-on collision with his adversary. After the impact, he pulls back and vigorously shakes his head, not just to intimidate his foe, but also to get that blood flowing to his brain again. These clashes are not mere skirmishes. They are intense and violent encounters. The force of their collisions is like a car slamming into a brick wall at 25 miles per hour, and on a peaceful day, the echoes of their clashes can be heard from miles away. The battles aren't always one-on-one. Sometimes a third contender joins the fray. They'll keep at it until one bull decides to beat a hasty retreat. Their formidable horns and thick skulls also ensure that these clashes don't end in immediate disaster and protect their brains from turning into mush. On a typical day, muskox bulls take the lead, flaunting their assertiveness and taking charge of crucial decisions, especially during the mating season. However, when gestation time rolls around, it's the ladies who call the shots, determining the daily travel distances of the herd and selecting the night's resting spots. These females have a pretty conservative approach to breeding, needing a hefty fat reserve to conceive. That's why, when the cows are busy nursing, the herds move around more to make sure everyone gets their fill. In their mating game, the creature is polygynous, with one lucky male getting the chance to mate with multiple females in a single season, which starts off in late June or early July. After eight to nine months of waiting, cows usually give birth to a single calf, which is born ready to roll and can keep up with the herd within hours. They get a warm welcome from the herd and get a good two months of nursing before they start chowing down on plants. Female calves reach reproductive maturity between one to four years of age, while males are ready to breed at three to four years old. Enduring the icy grip of the Arctic, where temperatures can plummet below freezing, muskoxen have mastered the art of survival as heterothermic mammals. This unique adaptation allows them to regulate their body temperature selectively, keeping their lower limbs cooler than the rest of their body to minimize heat loss from their extremities. Plus, their hemoglobin is three times less sensitive to temperature changes than humans, giving them a supercharged oxygen delivery system in the frigid air. However, the real game changer in their battle against the cold is their double-layered, long, dark brown fur. The outer layer of guard hairs acts as a shield against water, snow, and wind, while the inner layer, made of light wool known as kivyat, provides insulation, keeping the muskox warm. During summers, they shed this wooly undercoat, only for it to regrow in preparation for the impending winter. The kivyat, prized for its softness, length, and insulating properties, has inadvertently pitted the muskox against another threat, humans. Historically, overhunting led to a decline in the muskoxen population, prompting the authorities to reintroduce them into various regions to prevent their extinction. Despite their usually peaceful demeanor towards humans, muskox can actually be formidable if provoked. While there have been close encounters, none were as tragic as the 1964 incident with Stolten, which resulted in the animal being killed by the local authorities. In more recent times, muskoxen have made headlines for their encounters with humans, including an incident in Norway where a German tourist in his 70s was struck by one, resulting in the loss of his dental fillings due to the impact. Another tragic event occurred in 2022, when a court services officer from the Alaska State Troopers, Curtis Worland, was killed by a muskox while trying to scare away a group of them near his home's dog kennel. In present times, the muskoxen population is thriving without major threats, all thanks to stringent hunting regulations and strategic reintroduction efforts in suitable habitats. According to the IUCN Red List, muskoxen are classified as least concerned, boasting a population of approximately 127,000 individuals, spread across 55 distinct populations. Thanks for watching, and I'll catch you later!