Bighorn Sheep Picture

In the Bighorn Sheep picture, you’ll see stocky and well-muscled animals about the size of an average Mule Deer. Adult males weigh between 125 and 200 pounds; females are much smaller. There are three subspecies of the Bighorn Sheep: the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, the Desert Bighorn Sheep, and the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep. They look much the same, but have specific adaptations to their living conditions.

In the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep picture, you see sheep with padded hooves that make it easy to climb steep slopes. Bighorn Sheep of this subspecies inhabit grassy slopes and alpine meadows at altitudes up to 2500 m. In winter, they come down and choose drier slopes where the snow is not deep and they can find food. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep escape coyotes, mountain lions, and bobcats high in the mountains where no predator can hunt them.

A Bighorn Sheep picture taken in the desert will feature one of two subspecies of the desert Bighorn Sheep. These animals have developed special adaptations to the heat and cold of the desert. Their body temperature can fluctuate several degrees; they thrive on scarce vegetation, and are able to go without water for several days. Dew and rainwater collected in small rock pools are enough for them to survive. During drought, Desert Bighorn Sheep are able to lose 30% of their weight and quickly recover from dehydration after drinking a little water. The adaptive strategy of desert subspecies of the Bighorn Sheep is escaping from predators in dry areas where no predator can survive for long.

All subspecies are characterized by large and wide horns. Males have curling horns, but females’ horns are straight and not very large. Both males and females develop horns at the young age and continue growing them throughout life. Senior rams have horns measuring over three feet long. The head with horns may weigh over 30 pounds. The age of the animal can be determined by the horn annual rings. In the Bighorn Sheep picture, you can see how these animals use their horns for fighting and for finding food.