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Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep... ..."Ram
Tough" Big Horn
Sheep are found in the Rocky Mountains ranging from southern Canada to
Nevada, Western Texas, eastern California, and northern Mexico. The
species is comprised of three subspecies: Rocky Mountain Bighorn
Sheep, Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep and Desert Bighorn Sheep. The Bighorn
Sheep of Big Sky Country are Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep.
Dall Sheep, found in Alaska, are considered a separate species.
Ewes, females of the species,
bear the appearance of wise and crafty individuals -- an appearance that
suits their behavior. Lambs, the young of the species, are exceedingly
cute little fellows. The appearance of the adult males of the species
is so dramatic and imposing that their image has been adopted by Dodge to
invoke the impression toughness. The large curving horns on the sides
of a ram's head, which grow throughout the ram's life, can weigh as
much as 30 pounds!
During the fall rut (mating
season) males engage in combat to establish breeding rights. In
combat, the rams will run at each other at high speeds, up to 20 miles per
hour, and ram their heads together. It is not uncommon to see a ram
with horns damaged by these vioent contests. These dramatic battles
can last for hours. Having won breeding rights, the dominant male then
puts on a show of playing hard to get -- running from a female that chases
him before mating with her. Sometimes he'll kick a female to prompt
this game of chase.
As violent as the rut combat
is, during winter and spring, rams get along quite well. During those
seasons, it is not uncommon to see a bachelor herd comprised of rams of
varying age and size.
Bighorn Sheep are exceedingly
agile. They can walk on the slopes of canyon walls or loose slopes as
casually as you and I can walk on a sidewalk. This ability allows them
to elude predators. In fact, ewes deliver and hide their lambs on the
steep loose walls of cliffs or canyons to keep them safe from predators.
Just days old, lambs can negotiate this tricky terrain just like they were
born for it -- which, in fact, they were!
Among the images featured in
this gallery are photos of bighorn rams, photos of bighorn ewes and photos
of bighorn lambs.
BigSkyCountry.net
All
images contained herein are the copyrighted property of Katie La Salle-Lowery.
If you wish to use an image for any reason, please contact me at
info@bigskycountry.net.