Description - Bighorn Sheep is a sheep species which is native to North America. Bighorn Sheep on average can weigh up to 315lbs or more with some being able to top the scales over 500lbs! Females are referred to as “ewes” and males are known as “rams”. A group of Bighorn Sheep is called a here. They live approximately 15 years give or take in the wild. They range in color from light brown to grayish, or dark brown.
Habitat – Bighorn Sheep tend to live in steep mountainous regions with ledges only a few inches wide. This helps provide them safety from their natural predators such as Grizzly Bears, Coyotes, Wolves Cougars as well as the Canada Lynx. They are also known to inhabit alpine meadows, grassy mountain slopes, and rugged, rocky cliffs.
Tracks and Scat
Key Features – These sheep are named for their large horns which can weigh up to 30lbs. and even the females have horns which are smaller with less curvature, more spike like in appearance. Bighorn Sheep are gregarious animals, and form herds with 8-10 together being quite common.
Did You Know? - Bighorns are known for head-to-head combat between males.
Behaviors - Bighorn Sheep are gregarious animals, and form herds with 8-10 together being quite common.
Most Active Time - Bighorn Sheep are primarily diurnal but are known to be active at any time of the day or night. Activity patterns may vary with age, sex as well as what season it is. I find between 8am and 7pm in the summer to be good times depending on where you are.
Mating Season - Female Bighorn Sheep do not usually breed until their second or third year, which isn’t that long being that males usually don’t breed until their seventh year. Bighorn Sheep tend to mate in Autumn.
Diet – Bighorn Sheep are herbivores and mainly graze on grasses and sedges.
Did you know - They have balance-aiding split hooves and rough hoof bottoms for natural grip. These attributes, along with keen vision, help them move easily about rocky, rugged mountain terrain.
