Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
A year in the life
Spring
After a gestation period between 150 – 180 days, pregnant ewes isolate themselves to give birth to 1-2 lambs on steep cliffs. This dispersal across steep terrain makes it difficult for predators to key in on the vulnerable young. After about a week, lambs return with their mothers to nursery herds consisting of ewes and juveniles. Rams form separate herds.
Lamb beside mum© Parks Canada
Summer
Ram and nursery herds remain apart high on mountainside meadows.
Ewe group on grassland© Parks Canada/A. Dibb
Fall
Ram and nursery herds rejoin. During the mating season or rut, rams battle for dominance and access to individual females. Spectacular, ritual battles between dominant males result.
Two rams battle during the rut© Parks Canada
Winter
The mixed herd moves to lower elevation winter ranges. As winter ranges tend to be in valley bottoms, competition with human activity and development often results. It is possible for people and wild sheep to co-exist if we accommodate the needs of wild sheep for winter range and seasonal migration routes.
Sheep warning sign© Parks Canada/A. Dibb
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Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep