How do bighorn sheep live

Bighorn sheep are also important prey for large predators. Bighorn Sheep. Ovis canadensis. Population size. Life Span. Photos with Bighorn Sheep. Distribution Bighorn sheep live in North America in the western mountainous areas, from southern Canada to Mexico. Geography Continents. North America. Canada, Mexico, United States. Biome Montane grasslands and shrublands. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub. Desert and Xeric Shrublands. Temperate coniferous forest. Climate zones Arid.

Habits and Lifestyle Bighorn sheep are diurnal. Group name. Terrestrial, Cursorial, Altricial. Diet and Nutrition The diet of Bighorn sheep varies according to the season.

Diet Herbivore. Population Trend. Least concern LC. Population Population threats Unregulated or illegal hunting is the main threat, as well as competition from livestock, introduced diseases, and ongoing human encroachment where they live.

Population number It is thought that at the beginning of the 19th century Bighorns in North America numbered up to two million, but there are about only 70, today, including 15, sheep in Canada, 42, in the U. Ecological niche These sheep are important predators of shrubs and grasses in their native landscapes. Fun Facts for Kids The female is called a "ewe" and the male is called a "ram". Desert bighorn do not need to water to drink during winter when green vegetation is present.

Mountain lions, wolves, bobcats, coyotes and golden eagles are predators of bighorn sheep. Eagles have been known to prey upon lambs, but they are unable to kill adult bighorn. Predation is usually not a problem for healthy bighorn populations; however, when bighorn are supressed by other factors, predation can limit recovery and potentially drive a population to extinction. When is the breeding season for bighorn sheep?

The breeding season, or rut, generally extends from August-November for desert bighorn sheep and October-January for Rocky Mountain and California bighorn sheep. It is during this time that rams clash heads to fight for dominance. In each band of rams there is a dominance order, and the higher ranking rams do most of the breeding. Genetic studies are currently underway to determine the percentage of breeding completed by dominant and subordinate rams.

Bighorn sheep have an approximately 6 month gestation period and most ewes give birth to one lamb per year. When is the lambing season? Lambing seasons vary by location and year. Desert bighorn lambs are usually born in January-June, with the majority of births in February-April. The lambing season for bighorn sheep in colder climates is more concentrated and most births occur in April-June.

Prior to giving birth, adult ewes isolate themselves in steep rocky areas. Newborn lambs weigh pounds and can walk within hours after birth, however they are dependant upon steep terrain for protection from predators. Lambs follow their mothers for the first year of life to learn their home range and behavior. Recommended books regarding mountain sheep:.

Mike Rivkin and Roland Burbank. Silverfish Press, Avalon, California, 63 pgs. Mountainous areas are escape terrain for bighorn sheep where they can get away from predators, such as mountain lions and coyotes. As a result, they will often avoid closed in areas with too much vegetation. When do Desert Bighorn Sheep mate? At the age of two, ewes are sexually mature. They will come into estrus in July in low deserts and in August at the higher elevations.

Rams can detect these elevated hormone levels for mating. The ram will curl his lip to test how receptive the ewe is toward his advances. Once pregnant, the ewe's gestation period is six months and the timing coincides with the greening of plants during spring months. If lambs are fortunate enough to survive into adulthood, they will live an average of ten to fourteen years old.

Development, habitat fragmentation, disease and climate change are some of the threats that bighorn sheep face. Habitat fragmentation and development isolate bighorn populations that need wildlife corridors to mate and promote gene flow.

Development can usurp water sources needed by the sheep, and dissect their habitat with deadly freeways. Along with these threats, bighorn are vulnerable to a type of bacterial pneumonia, transmitted from contact with domestic sheep. Even if this ovipneumoniae does not kill the adult bighorn, it will often result in lamb mortality. Scientists are also concerned about the long-term impacts of climate change on bighorn sheep populations.

Hotter temperatures and prolonged drought can cause springs to evaporate. It can also affect the nutritional value of plants, which is an important food source for a variety of wildlife. Wildlife biologists are actively addressing threats to the survival of Desert Bighorn Sheep.