Bighorn Sheep

Description:

Th Bighorn Sheep are known for it's large horns. Their color varies from light,dark,grayish or chocolate brown with a white rump and lining on the backs of all four legs. Rams typically weigh 58-143 kg and are 91–100 cm tall and 180–200 cm long. While Ewes weigh 34-85 kg and are 76–91 cm tall and 140–170 cm long. Since these sheep are form The Rocky Mountains the males weigh up to 230 kg while females weigh up to 90 kg. They share the same environment with the Rocky Mountain Goat.Rocky Mountain goat, is a large-hoofed mammal found only in North America. They also have a symbiotic relationship with wolves.The wolf is the primeval wild dog, the largest wild canid.Parasitism is their symbiotic relationship because of wolves having Bighorn sheeps as one of their food resource. They are designed for their environment because they have balance-aiding split hooves and rough hoof bottoms for natural grip along with keen vision that help them move easily around rocky, rugged mountain terrain. Bighorn sheep have sexual reproduction and during mating season rams gather in larger groups and have a head butting contest to see who is more dominant. Head butting contests can last as long as 20 hours. The winner of the contest gets to mate with the ewes.

Habitat:

Bighorn sheep live in alpine meadows, mountain slopes and foothills. They eat grasses, clover and sedges browse through shrubs and seek minerals at natural salt licks. Bighorn sheep are hunted by bears,wolves,cougars,lynxes, golden eagles, coyotes and bobcats.They make use of their environment by climbing up in higher elevation areas during warmer seasons and climbing down lower elevation area during colder seasons. Also they climb up rocky slopes to evade predators and jump from ledge to ledge as far as 6 meters.

Notes:

I took a photo of these Bighorn sheep on my phone during my Grade8 Jasper trip after hiking up a mountain and we noticed them hanging around the side of the road when were heading back to town.