 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 A.Z.
|
The Rocky Mountain bighorns are in the class Mammalia (mammals). Order is Artiodactyla (cloven-hooted mammals). Their family is Bovidae (antelope, cattle, sheep, and goats), and their genus is Ovis (sheep). For protection, the bighorn's own good sense gives it plenty of warning. If it cannot outrun its enemy, then it may turn and charge. The bighorn must watch out for predators such as wolves, bears, coyotes, bobcats, and lynx. It prefers open areas. The bighorn's horns grow from the top of its head, and then curve away around the neck. The bighorn is very heavy and may weigh up to 14 km (30 pounds), and measure 115 cm (45 inches). The record length of the horns in the United States is 50 inches. The bighorn uses them to fight for females during mating season or to fight off predators. The Rocky Mountain bighorn has a brown and white coat with a dark line that runs down the back of its spine. Like a lamb, the bighorn has wool, but it is hidden under a covering of long guard hairs. Its lower belly, rump, and muzzle tip (nose) are all a creamy white. Its short tail is dark and its ears are small. Males can weigh 155 kilograms (340 pounds.) The females, or ewes, are much smaller. A full grown male, also known as a ram, may stand one meter (3.3 feet) tall at the shoulder. The mating season starts in October and continues through the long winter. The bighorn begins breeding at the age of four. Its neck becomes thicker and it starts competing for the females with its horns. When babies are born they feed from their mothers and when they are strong enough, they are led down to the grassy slopes. From there, another bighorn keeps an eye on the baby. A female can produce one to three babies at one time. A relative of the bighorn is the Dalls sheep, which can be found in Central Alaska. These animals are white and have medium-size horns. Humans hunt the bighorn for its highly prized meat and its horns for trophies.
|
|
The Rocky Mountain bighorn lives on big rocks. These animals spend most of their time eating hay and twigs and sleeping on rocks. The adults have big curving horns on their heads. The female has small, curving horns, which are a creamy brownish white. Some of the bighorns are taller than a normal size deer.
|
Rocky Mountain bighorns can be found in the western mountain regions of North America. Although their range extends south to Mexico, most make their homes in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta and British Columbia. Bighorns prefer to live in the wilderness areas because they are well away from people. Bighorns spend their summers high up in the mountains and then when winter snow comes, they move down into the valleys. They are found in the tundra, coniferous forest, and desert biomes. |
|
The bighorn's adapts to life in cold conditions with its thick, furry, wool coat. In the desert, the bighorn's color changes for camouflage. The hoof is divided into two parts. When the sheep walk or jump, the two halves of the hoof spread apart when standing on uneven surfaces. Another adaptation of the hoof is that it has a fitted cushioning pad so the bighorn can run across rocks. |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Adrain, Mary. The North American Bighorn Sheep. NewYork: Hastings House Publishing, 1966. Grolier Educational Corporation. 1986. Funk & Wagnalls. Wildlife Encyclopedia. 1993. |
