Sheep and goats

Kootenay National Park

Sheep and goats have permanent horns. These horns grow a bit bigger every year and are used for the same purpose as antlers: establishing dominance over each other.

Bighorn Sheep | Mountain Goat


Bighorn Sheep

three bighorn rams grazing

Bighorns have brown horns, a sandy-coloured coat and a white rump. Rams have massive curved horns while the ewe's horns are short and spiky. Bighorn Sheep are primarily grazers and migrate seasonally between low grassy slopes and alpine meadows. During the fall mating season, rams battle for dominance by crashing horns together until the weaker ram gives up.

Mountain Goat

two mountain goats on hillside

Mountain Goats have white coats, beards, and short, black, dagger-like horns. Females or nannies and their kids often form groups during the summer, but males or "billies" are usually alone. Mountain Goats have to work very hard at foraging for whatever food is available at the high elevations where they spend most of their time. They are also some of the best mountain climbers in the world.

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