Common name: Bighorn Sheep
Scientific name: Ovis canadensis
Conservation Status: Least Concern
At the zoo: Saturnin (male, 10y), Demi-Lune (female, 13y), Olive (female, 11y), Popcorn (female, 6y), Tekarra (female, 2y), Kona (female, 1y), Maize (female, 1y), and Feta (female, 1y) - you can find them in the middle of the zoo beside the Mountain Goats. Dodge and Hemi (twin brothers, 3y) and Indigo (male, 2y) are now in a separate area in the SW corner of the zoo. They will be leaving soon to start new lives at another zoo. We'll miss you boys!
Habitat:
Bighorn sheep are found in the mountainous regions of western North America.
Diet:
Herbivorous: grasses, sedges, forbs
Life Expectancy:
15 years
Biology:
Bighorn sheep have a tan coat with a white rump and muzzle. Both sexes have thick curved horns which are much larger on the male. They weigh 53 - 127 kilograms and are 1.5 - 1.8 metres long.
There is intense competition between male bighorn sheep during mating season. Male dominance is determined by age as well as horn size. A large male's horns can weigh as much as 14 kilograms! A head-to-head battle will continue until one male concedes. Some battles can last as long as 24 hours!
As a whole the species is secure with distinct populations threatened with extinction. Their main threats include illegal hunting, competition with livestock, and habitat loss.
Fun Fact:
Bighorn sheep have excellent eyesight which helps them jump from ledge to ledge.
