Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn sheep were once found throughout much of western North America, from the higher peaks in the Rocky Mountains to the badlands of the Great Plains to the deserts of the southwest. Due to hunting, habitat destruction, and other factors their range has been greatly reduced. But in recent decades they have made a dramatic comeback in some places and can even be found near some cities and towns.

The majestic bighorn sheep ram, with his graceful full curl, is one of the iconic wildlife species. It takes several years for a ram to get the full curl desired by hunters. The colliding of horns by males during the fall breeding season creates a crashing sound that echoes from canyon wall to canyon wall. The fights typically last for only a few seconds and perhaps no more than one collision, but they can sometimes go on for many minutes between two equally matched males. For the victor is the right to breed with a receptive females. A ram may mate with a female several times in one day.