# Bighorn Sheep (*Ovis canadensis*)

> Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) are mountain sheep of western North America whose rams grow massive curling horns used in ritual clashes. They graze alpine meadows and desert cliffs from Canada to Mexico, weigh around 100 kg for large rams, and are listed Least Concern, though pneumonia outbreaks linked to domestic sheep still devastate herds.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Rocky Mountains and desert ranges from Canada through the western United States into Mexico.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bighorn-sheep/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Bovidae
- **Genus:** Ovis

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Ovis canadensis |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Habitat | Alpine meadows, cliffs, and desert mountains |
| Lifespan | Around 12 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 100 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 30 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Curl horns and cliff agility

Rams' horns can weigh more than the rest of the skeleton; clashes establish dominance before the rut. Split hooves and rough pads grip near-vertical rock. Ewes have shorter, slenderer horns.

## Alpine and desert grazer

Diet is grasses, sedges, and forbs in summer; browse increases in winter. Mineral licks draw herds to canyon walls. Across its range it is tied to alpine meadows, cliffs, and desert mountains, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Rockies to desert ranges

Alpine meadows, cliffs, and desert mountains from Canada through the western United States into Mexico, including iconic herds in the Rockies and Southwest.

## Disease from domestic sheep

Reintroductions rebuilt many herds after market hunting, keeping the species Least Concern, but respiratory disease spilled from domestic sheep and goats remains a leading cause of die-offs.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why do bighorn rams ram each other?

Horn clashes settle dominance hierarchies that influence mating access during the rut.

### How much do bighorn horns weigh?

A full-curl ram's horns can exceed 14 kg in large individuals — a substantial fraction of body mass.

### Can bighorn sheep climb cliffs?

Yes — specialised hooves let them traverse steep rock that predators struggle to follow.

### What kills bighorn sheep herds today?

Pneumonia complexes associated with contact with domestic sheep are a major modern threat.

### Where do bighorn sheep live?

Rocky Mountains and desert ranges from Canada through the western United States into Mexico.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bighorn-sheep/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.