Facts about bighorn sheep
By zteve t evans
Bighorn sheep originated in Siberia crossing the Bering land bridge connecting Siberia to North America. They were once numbered in their millions but by 1900 they had diminished to several thousand in population.
Three distinct species of bighorn sheep
Genetic testing in recent times has identified three distinct species of bighorn sheep in Siberia and North America. They are Ovis Canadensis, Ovis dalli, and Ovis nivicola, or the Siberian Snow sheep.
Of these there are several subspecies which include the Rocky Mountains bighorn sheep and the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.
Large curved horns
These are large mammals that are related to goats and have a white muzzle and rump. Their coats are not wool, but are similar to a goat's being course, long and full. Colouring ranges from light brown varying in hue up to dark brown.
Bighorn sheep are very sure of foot with hooves that are split and rough on the bottom with shock absorbing pads to give more stability and grip on rocky terrain. This gives them the ability to leap from ledge to ledge on slippery rocks at great speed.
They have very good hearing and sense of smell and very sharp eye sight which allows them to spot potential predators early allowing them to move into safer areas for protection.
Their distinctive physical characteristic is their large curved horns which is where they take their name from. Both males and females have horns and rams can grow large horns that weigh up to thirty pounds, while the ewe's are smaller and less curved.
Habitat and diet
The habitat of bighorn sheep in North America ranges from the Canadian Rockies in the north and along the Rocky Mountain range south to New Mexico. They prefer a terrain of rocky, rugged cliffs and alpine meadows and grassy slopes in the mountains.
Being herbivores the bighorn sheep spends much of its time grazing sedges, grasses, seeds and plants. They have a complicated though efficient digestive system that maximises the removal of nutrients from low quality fodder, chewing as cud disgorged food.
Genetic testing in recent times has identified three distinct species of bighorn sheep in Siberia and North America. They are Ovis Canadensis, Ovis dalli, and Ovis nivicola, or the Siberian Snow sheep.
Of these there are several subspecies which include the Rocky Mountains bighorn sheep and the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.
Large curved horns
These are large mammals that are related to goats and have a white muzzle and rump. Their coats are not wool, but are similar to a goat's being course, long and full. Colouring ranges from light brown varying in hue up to dark brown.
Bighorn sheep are very sure of foot with hooves that are split and rough on the bottom with shock absorbing pads to give more stability and grip on rocky terrain. This gives them the ability to leap from ledge to ledge on slippery rocks at great speed.
They have very good hearing and sense of smell and very sharp eye sight which allows them to spot potential predators early allowing them to move into safer areas for protection.
Their distinctive physical characteristic is their large curved horns which is where they take their name from. Both males and females have horns and rams can grow large horns that weigh up to thirty pounds, while the ewe's are smaller and less curved.
Habitat and diet
The habitat of bighorn sheep in North America ranges from the Canadian Rockies in the north and along the Rocky Mountain range south to New Mexico. They prefer a terrain of rocky, rugged cliffs and alpine meadows and grassy slopes in the mountains.
Being herbivores the bighorn sheep spends much of its time grazing sedges, grasses, seeds and plants. They have a complicated though efficient digestive system that maximises the removal of nutrients from low quality fodder, chewing as cud disgorged food.
The mating season
Bighorn sheep are gregarious and live in herds, sometimes as many as one hundred in number though sometimes in smaller groups of eight to ten members.
Rams will clash head to head during the short mating season as they compete for dominance over the ewes. The fighting is spectacular as the rams hurl themselves at each other head on at speeds of up to twenty miles an hour, or rear on their hind legs and clash horns together. This is repeated again and again and can last for hours, or until one signals defeat by walking away.
Fortunately due to the thick bone structure of the ram's skull there is seldom serious injury. For the most part it is the stronger and older rams with the largest horns that are victorious. Once the mating season is over the sheep usually split into male and female herds.
Protection from predators
The ewes give birth to their lambs on high sheltered ridges and ledges that provide protection from predators such as wolves, cougars, and coyotes, but golden eagles still pose a threat and will take lambs when they can.
Soon after birth lambs are up on their feet and can walk. After a week the mother and lamb rejoin the herd. The lambs are frisky and playful and stay with the mother for between four and six months.
In the wild the Bighorn sheep has an average life span of around ten to fifteen years. It is very often during the winter that they fall victim to cold, or weakened by insufficient food, catch disease and die.
Bighorn sheep are gregarious and live in herds, sometimes as many as one hundred in number though sometimes in smaller groups of eight to ten members.
Rams will clash head to head during the short mating season as they compete for dominance over the ewes. The fighting is spectacular as the rams hurl themselves at each other head on at speeds of up to twenty miles an hour, or rear on their hind legs and clash horns together. This is repeated again and again and can last for hours, or until one signals defeat by walking away.
Fortunately due to the thick bone structure of the ram's skull there is seldom serious injury. For the most part it is the stronger and older rams with the largest horns that are victorious. Once the mating season is over the sheep usually split into male and female herds.
Protection from predators
The ewes give birth to their lambs on high sheltered ridges and ledges that provide protection from predators such as wolves, cougars, and coyotes, but golden eagles still pose a threat and will take lambs when they can.
Soon after birth lambs are up on their feet and can walk. After a week the mother and lamb rejoin the herd. The lambs are frisky and playful and stay with the mother for between four and six months.
In the wild the Bighorn sheep has an average life span of around ten to fifteen years. It is very often during the winter that they fall victim to cold, or weakened by insufficient food, catch disease and die.
The future for bighorn sheep
The main threat to the bighorn sheep comes from hunting and human encroachment of their habitat. They are also vulnerable to domesticated livestock diseases and pneumonia. Their horns are also prized as trophies killing of the males and illegal hunting is endangering the continuation of the herds.
Some sub-species have become extinct and some are coming under increasing threat. Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act the sub-species, the Californian bighorn sheep are considered to be an endangered species.
The main threat to the bighorn sheep comes from hunting and human encroachment of their habitat. They are also vulnerable to domesticated livestock diseases and pneumonia. Their horns are also prized as trophies killing of the males and illegal hunting is endangering the continuation of the herds.
Some sub-species have become extinct and some are coming under increasing threat. Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act the sub-species, the Californian bighorn sheep are considered to be an endangered species.
References and Attributions
Copyright zteve t evans August 4, 2009
Copyright zteve t evans August 4, 2009