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Bighorn Sheep

Ovis canadensis

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52.8752, -118.082

Field Notes

Description:

The Bighorn Sheep colors varies from dark, light and brownish with a white patch on the back butt and all four legs. The size varies, rams weigh 55-145 kg and are 90-100 cm tall and 180-200 cm long. The ewes weigh around 34-85 kg and are around 75-91 cm tall and 140-170cm long. The Rocky Mountain Goat shares the same environment as the Bighorn sheep. The rocky mountain goat is a large mammal found only in north America. It is a sure-footed climber commonly seen on cliffs and ice.
The rams are designed to live in their environment because of their big thick fur to keep them warm when it's cold and they shed when it is really hot out. The camouflage by their brownish gray fur that blends into the landscape. The Bighorn sheep have a sexual reproduction and during mating season (fall) rams compete against other rams with usually the same size horn as themselves and have head butting contest see who is more dominant by who wins the loser will walk away. Head butting contests can last up to 20 hours. the winner gets to mate with the most females

Habitat:

The bighorn sheep grazes on grasses and vegetation that is available in its rugged habitat on mountain slopes. This sparse environment provides the bighorn sheep with the ability to escape potential predators, such as grizzly or black bears and wolfs Its keen eyesight allows it to detect movement and objects up to a kilometer away, giving it time to climb up or down a steep incline to safety. It can use ledges only five centimeters wide for footholds and can jump as far as six meters from ledge to ledge.

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Photographed
PublishedNovember 1, 2013

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