Bighorn Sheep Bighorn males, called rams, are famous for their large, curled horns. Bighorn sheep are found in central and eastern Washington. They are social animals and form herds that are usually 8–10 sheep. Desert bighorn sheep … Females are called ewes. This website explores the natural history, current population status, and conservation efforts surrounding California’s desert bighorn sheep. Bighorn sheep live in social groups but rams and ewes usually only meet to mate. Note the wide flare of the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep horns, which are smaller in size but far wider than those of the larger Desert Bighorn: Coloration Desert Bighorn sheep are highly adapted for desert climates and can go for extended periods without drinking. December 12, 2015 | Darren Poke. Desert bighorn sheep eat brushy plants such as desert holly and desert cactus.

Desert Bighorn sheep are highly adapted for desert climates and can go for extended periods without drinking. Bighorn sheep live in large herds with many animals. Generally, bighorn sheep are opportunistic feeders … However, their most distinctive sign is their curved horns. Desert Bighorn Sheep are generally smaller and lighter colored than their cousins, the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. What they eat: Bighorn Sheep are herbivores.


Male-only bachelor herds usually contain 5 to 50 rams at one time. They also have a whitish muzzle, kind of like they’ve been pushing their nose into a sack of flour. There is no division of herds by sex or age, but small dominance hierarchies develop amongst animals, particularly during breeding time. The state hosts two subspecies: desert bighorn (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) and Sierra Nevada bighorn (Ovis canadensis sierrae). Males are called rams. Ramp is covered with white fur. Although the diet of bighorn sheep varies according to the habitat and season, bighorn primarily eat grasses, shrubs, and forbs. 5 Interesting Facts About Bighorn Sheep. Click the range map to learn more about the distribution of Bighorn Sheep in Washington. Bighorn Sheep are a medium sized grazing animal. Herds as large as 20 sheep have been seen along the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. Weight: 115-280 lbs.
Desert Bighorn Sheep Facts.

Here are five interesting facts about them: They grow up to 1.8 metres long and the males are larger than the females. Desert bighorn sheep live in Death Valley, California, as well as Nevada, Texas and northern Mexico. of Young: 1-2 Birth Interval: 1 year Lifespan: Bighorns can live 10 to 15 years Typical Diet: mainly grasses, sedges and forbs The desert bighorn sheep live in the Death Valley, California; Nevada, Texas and northern Mexico. Desert Bighorns are found in the southwestern United States, including Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and southern California. From the arid desert of the Mojave to the snowy heights of the Sierras, California is home to diverse populations of bighorn sheep. 9 Bighorn Sheep Facts. They are social animals and form herds that are usually 8–10 sheep. A.