Skip to content

Dovrefjell Winter Count Found 220 Muskoxen, Above the 200-animal Management Target

Male muskox in Dovrefjell National Park, Norway
Conservation · Population & status

The 2026 winter count of muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) on Dovrefjell, Norway recorded 220 animals, according to the County Governor of Trøndelag. The count was carried out from 22 to 26 January by the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate together with Lesja Fjellstyre, Oppdal Bygdeallmenning and Dovre Fjellstyre.

Of the animals recorded, 32 were calves and 188 were older muskoxen. All were found within the designated core area for the Dovrefjell population. The County Governor described the result as consistent with the previous year’s count and with the recorded mortality among adult animals.

The population has varied between 200 and 249 animals during the past ten years. Muskoxen are counted annually in summer, autumn and winter to follow population size, reproduction and mortality.

The Dovrefjell population is introduced and is managed within a defined core area. The management plan states that the winter population should not exceed 200 animals. When regulation is needed, the Norwegian Environment Agency determines how many animals are to be removed after advice from the county governors, and the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate carries out the removals.

Sources and image credit

  1. Statsforvalteren i Trøndelag. (2026, February 5). Stabil bestand med moskus på Dovre.Primary official announcement of the 2026 winter count: 220 muskoxen, including 32 calves and 188 older animals, counted 22–26 January; all recorded animals were within the core area.
  2. Statsforvalteren i Trøndelag. (2026, February 3). 200 moskus på Dovrefjell.Official management context, updated 3 February 2026. States that the winter population should not exceed 200 animals and describes population regulation and annual monitoring.

Image: Charles J. Sharp / Wikimedia Commons — male muskox (Ovibos moschatus) in Dovrefjell National Park, Norway, photographed 22 June 2023. Illustrative photograph from the same population area; cropped to 16:9. · CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ · Source

About this content: This story was produced with AI assistance within an editorial workflow developed by Wildlife Vagabond. Editorial responsibility remains with Wildlife Vagabond.How AI is used

Population & status

SPECIES IN THIS STORY

Species in this story

Muskox Ovibos moschatus Explore species

Independent research and conservation news archive

Did you find this information useful?

Wildlife Vagabond is independently built and maintained. Voluntary support helps cover source verification, hosting and continued work on research and conservation news.

Support Wildlife Vagabond

The news archive will remain freely available.