Bighorn Sheep ram grazing in the mountains of montana in glacier national park in the summer

Bighorn Sheep Ram Grazing

Montana, USA

The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is one of two species of wild sheep in North America with large horns, the other being the Dall sheep. The large, curved horns are borne by the rams (males), while the ewes (females) have horns that are shorter and with less curvature. The bighorn sheep's keen eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell help it detect and avoid predators.

In warmer months, bighorn sheep browse on grasses, clover, and sedges: transitioning to eating woody plants like willow and sage in colder months. Females tend to forage and walk, possibly to avoid predators and protect lambs. Males tend to eat, then rest and ruminate, which lends to more effective digestion and larger increases in body size. Most weigh 160 to 250 pounds, but males may weigh more than 350 pounds and stand around 40 inches at the shoulder.

Bighorn sheep are considered good indicators of land health because the species is sensitive to many human-induced environmental problems. Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.

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