Bighorn Sheep

Description:

-The bighorn sheep gets its name from its large, curved horns. -The bighorn sheep in this photo is a male, and you can tell because of the large horns. Female bighorn sheep have horns, but they are much smaller. -Bighorn sheep can range in color from light brown to grayish, or dark chocolate brown. -Male bighorn sheep, like the one in this photo, weigh approximately 127-316 pounds, and stand 36-41 inches at the shoulder. -Bighorn sheep share their environment with the condor, which is a bird that lives in the Grand Canyon. -Bighorn sheep have a symbiotic relationship in the form of parasitism with bears, wolves, cougars, and other predators that hunt bighorn sheep as prey. -Bighorn sheep are designed with hooves that can keep grip so that they can easily climb steep terrain where they can seek cover from predators. -Bighorn sheep reproduce using sexual reproduction and can produce offspring in 5 months.

Habitat:

Bighorn sheep generally inhabit alpine meadows, grassy mountain slopes, and foothill country near rugged, rocky cliffs. Bighorn sheep feed on grass and other vegetation. Bighorn sheep are preyed on by bears, wolves, lynx's, bobcats, and especially cougars. Bighorn sheep interact with their environment by feeding on it, and using it to get away from predators that can't chase it up steep terrain.