Wild Animals Charm Page

Bighorn Sheep

The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep native to North America named for its large horns. Bighorns are known for head-to-head combat between males. The male sheep is called a ram and can be recognized by his massive brown horns. The horns curl back over the ears, down, and up past the cheeks. By the time a ram reaches seven or eight years of age, he can have a set of horns with a full curl and a spread of up to 33 inches which can weigh up to 30 lbs. Ewes, the females, are smaller than the rams and have shorter, smaller horns that never exceed half a curl. The bighorn's tail is very short. Bighorn inhabit alpine meadows, grassy mountain slopes and foothill country near rugged, rocky cliffs allowing for quick escape. In winter, bighorn prefer slopes 2,500-5,000 feet where annual snowfall is less than 60 inches a year, because they cannot paw through deep snow to feed.

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