Musk oxen are shaggy ice age relics that inhabit the Arctic Refuge year round. Extirpated at the turn of the century, they were reintroduced into the area 25 years ago and currently number around 600.

In the summer and early winter, muskoxen depend on lowland riparian willows, which would most likely be dug up during excavation of gravel to be used during construction.

Highly specific in their choice of habitat, they are unable to adapt readily to habitat destruction. Like the polar bear, given sufficient human disturbance musk oxen will run away and during a full fledged "panic-flight" may also abandon their young. Such abandoned calves will also likely die.

Read more about these animals in our Muskoxen in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge fact sheet.