What kind of animal is a bighorn sheep? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. Bighorn sheep are a member of the wild sheep family and can be found mainly in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States and southwestern Canada. You can just imagine hitting your head.
What is a bighorn sheep? About basic status
Bighorn sheep (bighorn sheep) are artiodactyls that belong to the Bovidae family. The scientific name is Ovis canadensis. The body length is 150-170cm and the weight is 57-108kg. A list of basic information is below. “sheep” is a cow-eyed creature that is related to sheep.
| Japanese（和名） | オオツノヒツジ (ビッグホーン) |
| English（英名） | American bighorn sheep |
| scientific name(学名) | Ovis canadensis |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、Artiodactyla、 Bovidae、Ovis 哺乳綱、ウシ目、ウシ科、ヒツジ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | LEAST CONCERN |
| Length（体長） | 150-170cm |
| Weight（体重） | 57-108kg |
About classification
The following subspecies of bighorn exist: The Aujubon bighorn is now extinct.
- O. c. californiana カリフォルニアビッグホーン
- O. c. canadensis ロッキービッグホーン
- O. c. mexicana メキシコビッグホーン
- O. c. nelsoni ネルソンビッグホーン
- O. c. auduboni オージュボンビッグホーン
About habitat
Its habitat is mainly in North America, including the United States and Mexico.
① Main Distribution Areas
Bighorn sheep are wild sheep that live in the highlands and mountainous regions of Central and East Asia.
Mongolia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan
China (Tibet and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region)
Russian Far East
② Habitat Characteristics
Elevation: Mountainous areas between 2,000 and 5,000 meters
Terrain: Mountainous rocky areas, cliffs, and slopes
Vegetation: Grasslands, alpine grasslands, and shrublands
Climate: Cold and dry, with deep snow in winter
👉 Adapted to life in dry alpine grasslands.
③ Range of Activity
Often travel in groups.
Move up and down in altitude depending on the season.
Summer: Feed on alpine grasslands.
Winter: Move to lower altitudes with less snow.
④ Relationship with Humans
Since they primarily live in mountainous areas, they have little contact with humans.
However, their habitat can become fragmented due to grazing and hunting.
feature is? What kind of creature is it?
Bighorn sheep have gray-brown fur and white abdomen and rump. Its habitat is mountainous areas centered on the Rocky Mountains. Both males and females have horns, and the female’s horns are almost straight and short. The male’s horns are thick, round, and point outward. Bighorn sheep are also known as bighorns because of their large horns. They usually live and move in small groups.
① Body Size
Body Length: Approximately 1.5-2m
Shoulder Height: Approximately 1.0-1.3m
Weight: Males 90-150kg, Females 40-60kg
👉 One of the largest wild sheep.
② Horn Characteristics
Males have large, curved horns.
Horns are rounded at the tips and encircle the head.
Horns can reach lengths of up to 1.2m or more.
Females have small or almost no horns.
👉 Used for status competition and display within the herd.
③ Coat Color
Winter coat is thick and grayish-brown to brown.
Summer coat is slightly thinner and lighter brown.
Hair from the neck to shoulders is long and mane-like.
④ Athletic Ability
Highly adapted for high mountain and rocky terrain.
Climb rocky terrain quickly and easily, even on steep slopes.
High stamina, allowing for long-distance travel in herds.
What is your personality like?
Bighorns are highly social animals and tend to live in groups. They usually form herds of around 10 to 100 individuals and are highly disciplined animals.
① They are timid and cautious.
Sensitive to humans and predators.
They can detect sound and movement from a distance and flee.
If they sense danger, they will immediately seek refuge in rocky or high places.
👉 Their basic strategy is to “flee.”
② They are competitive within their herd.
Males fight with each other using their horns.
During the breeding season, they engage in fierce physical contests to determine dominance.
Females are relatively calm, but they do fight over food.
③ They are moderately curious.
They check out new objects and plants within the herd.
They immediately retreat if they perceive danger.
They rarely approach recklessly.
④ They are highly adaptable to their environment.
They can survive in harsh environments such as high mountains, rocky areas, and arid regions.
They can move and feed even in snowy winters.
They move seasonally to secure food.
⑤ They generally avoid people in the wild.
Males are dangerous during the breeding season or when cornered.
They are not aggressive due to predation or human habituation, but they will flee immediately if approached.
What is the ecology like?
Bighorns are active during the day and feed on grass, leaves, and tree branches. During the breeding season, males may clash their horns with each other as they compete for females. They are polygynous, and most of their breeding occurs from autumn to early winter, with a gestation period of six months. Lifespan is 15 to 20 years.
① Group Life
They generally live in groups.
Group composition is often divided by gender and age.
Male groups: young males or solitary males
Female groups: females and young animals
There is a hierarchy within the group, and males compete for status by using their antlers.
② Migration/Habitat
Mainly mountainous areas at altitudes of 2,000-5,000m
Seasonal migration (highlands ⇄ lowlands)
Summer: Forages on alpine grasslands
Winter: Moves to lower altitudes with less snow
Capable of traveling long distances in groups
③ Diet
Herbivore (mainly alpine plants)
Grass, shrubs, moss, leaves
In winter, they also eat plants under the snow and dry plants
Strong digestive abilities to cope with harsh environments
④ Breeding
Breeding Season (Ramming Season): Autumn
Males fight for females using their horns
Gestation Period: Approximately 5 months
Birth: 1-2 lambs (rarely 3)
Lambs grow up in groups with their mothers
⑤ Dealing with Predators
Natural Predators: Wolves, leopards, lions (depending on the region)
Flees to rocky or high ground
Quickly moves when the herd senses danger
⑥ Special Abilities
Athletic ability to quickly climb rocky areas
Strength to withstand oxygen deficiencies at high altitudes
Adaptability to forage for food in the snow, even in harsh winters
Are there any natural enemies?
The bighorn’s natural enemies include mountain lions, bears, and coyotes.
About Bighorn Sheep Calves
This section explains bighorn sheep calves.
They are “baby wild sheep adapted to mountain life, small at birth but growing rapidly under the protection of their mother and herd.”
① Immediately after birth
Birthing: Spring to early summer (usually May to June)
Weight: Approximately 4-5 kg
Height: Approximately 30 cm
Hair is soft, with a brown to light brown camouflage coloring
Eyes are open, and they can stand up immediately (almost ambulatory)
👉 They mature precociously, making them an immediate asset in mountainous areas.
② Mother-child life
Mothers constantly protect their lambs
Learn foraging and danger avoidance from their mothers
Protect their lambs and avoid danger
If they have siblings, they learn social skills through playful interactions
③ Growth characteristics
Lambs can climb rocky terrain within a few weeks of birth
Begin eating tough alpine plants within a few months of birth
As they grow, their fur changes from winter to summer fur
Males’ horns begin to grow small between six months and one year of age
④ Learning behavior in the herd
Cubs observe the behavior of their mothers and female pack members
Learn where to feed, detect danger, and how to escape
Male cubs practice fighting and using their horns before leaving their mother’s pack
⑤ Until independence
Separated from their mothers at one to two years of age
Males join young male packs
Females often remain with their mother’s pack
⑥ Survival challenges
Natural predators: wolves, coyotes, large raptors
Food shortages and bad weather often cause deaths
Protection of the pack and mother is directly linked to survival
Are bighorns an endangered species?
Bighorns are not an endangered species. Some subspecies have become extinct due to their numbers being reduced due to overhunting for their magnificent horns, but overall the population remains stable.
- North American Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)
Distribution: Rocky Mountains, Great Basin, etc. in the United States and Canada
IUCN Rating: LC (Least Concern)
Population: Estimated at approximately 80,000
Protection and reintroduction programs have led to a recovery trend
- Bighorn Sheep (Ovis ammon) – A species found in Central Asia
Distribution: Mongolia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, etc.
IUCN Rating: NT (Near Threatened)
Populations are declining
Causes:
Hunting (for horns and meat)
Habitat fragmentation due to development and grazing
Food shortages due to overgrazing and drought
- Conservation Status
Many areas are protected by nature reserves and national parks
Hunting is sometimes strictly controlled
Reintroduction programs and artificial conservation are aimed at stabilizing the population
Can bighorns be kept as pets?
Bighorns are not very good pets. We strongly recommend viewing them at a zoo.
① Legal Issues
In Japan, large wild sheep may be designated as designated animals.
Special permission is required for private ownership.
In many US states, keeping wild species is restricted.
👉 Keeping them outside of zoos and research facilities is generally prohibited.
② Personality and Instinct Issues
As wild animals, they are highly cautious.
They may engage in sudden horn-latch or threatening behavior.
Once they reach adulthood, both their horns and weight can be dangerous.
The social behavior and fighting that occur in groups cannot be replicated at home.
③ Environmental Issues
They require ample space for exercise.
They are stressed if there is no terrain, such as rocky areas or slopes.
They also require an environment similar to that of alpine plants.
Because of their herd habits, keeping them alone is stressful.
④ Even lambs are dangerous.
Baby lambs are cute at just a few months old, but they develop adult strength and horns over the course of several years.
Their instincts persist, so even if they become accustomed to humans, they remain dangerous.
⑤ Examples from Overseas
Some wildlife enthusiasts have kept them as pets.
Many cases involve accidents, deaths from stress, and eventual euthanasia.
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