| Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep inhabit the
mountains from Canada south to New Mexico. Shy
animals they are relatives of goats, and have
balance-aiding split hooves and rough hoof bottoms
for natural grip. These attributes, along with keen
vision, help them move easily about rocky, rugged
mountain terrain avoiding most predators such as
wolves and mountain lions (cougars). These wild
sheep live in social groups, but rams and ewes
typically meet only to mate. Rams live in bachelor
groups and females live in herds with other females
and their young rams. In winter, bighorn herds move
to lower-elevation mountain pastures where they eat
available grass, seeds, and plants |
