Range (in red) of the bighorn sheep
Range (in red) of the bighorn sheep
A bighorn lamb
A bighorn lamb
A bighorn ewe
A bighorn ewe
A bighorn ram
A bighorn ram
The special hooves of a bighorn sheep
The special hooves of a bighorn sheep
A bighorn sheep walking down a mountain
A bighorn sheep walking down a mountain
A bighorn sheep running
A bighorn sheep running
Bighorn Sheep
Topic(s):   Alpine Animals, Chaparral Animals, Desert Life, Endangered Animals, Lewis & Clark Animals, Mammals, Mountain Animals
Quick Facts
Type of Animal
mammal
Biome(s)
alpine, chaparral, desert
Habitat(s)
mountains, hills, rocky slopes
Diet
grasses, shrubs
Male
ram
Female
ewe
Baby
lamb
Group
band, flock, or herd
Life Span
15 years (wild)
Migrates
yes
Hibernates
no
Predators
cougars, bobcats, wolves, grizzly and brown bears, golden eagles
Endangered
yes, (in California) due to loss of habitat; disease

The bighorn sheep lives in the Rockies of western North America. A male bighorn has spiral horns that grow throughout its life. The horns may weigh up to 45 pounds. The female’s horns are thinner and sweep backwards. The bighorn sheep has a brown wool coat. It sheds its coat once a year. This sheep has very sharp eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell.

Bighorn sheep live in remote, sparse areas. Its special hooves provide a great grip on steep mountainsides.

The bighorn sheep grazes on twigs, grasses, and leaves. When food is hard to find in the winter, it migrates to sheltered valleys.

Bighorn sheep live in groups of up to one hundred. Rams and ewes live apart. Male bighorn sheep have head-butting contests to show strength. A bighorn sheep can run 35 miles an hour. It can jump seven feet in the air. No wonder it is called the king of the mountain.

Resource information

Canadian Geographic. CG Kids Animal Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/pdf/bighorn_sheep.pdf

Jackson, Tom. (n.d.). Bighorn Sheep. Danbury, CT: Grolier.

National Geographic Society (U.S.) (2005). National Geographic book of mammals. Washington, D.C: The Society.

Citation information

APA Style: Bighorn Sheep. (2020, March). Retrieved from Facts4Me at https://www.facts4me.com

MLA Style: "Bighorn Sheep." Facts4Me. Mar. 2020. https://www.facts4me.com.

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