Male California Bighorn sheep

Bighorn sheep are North American mountain sheep with relatively large horns, weighing up to 30 pounds. This proud male is enjoying a peaceful moment in the sun whilst watching his family.

comments (7)

Barry

Lion

I hasve spent lots of time in the Sierra Nevadas and still never seen one of these. I would love to see one in the wild. Posted 8 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  They look so bad-ass indeed! This one was in a zoo, if that wasn't clear already. Posted 8 years ago
2. morpheme
  
  Lion
  
  We've got some up here in Washington. I've seen them, but they were quite far away, so I didn't get any photos. Posted 8 years ago
3. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks for accepting this challenge
    
    ;) Posted 8 years ago
  2. 1. morpheme
      
      Lion
      
      Lol.. I'll do my best. Winter is the easiest time - they show up at feeding stations, so it's easier to know where to find them and easier to get close. I looked it up - I did know that big horns were native here, but were wiped out when people came in and started farming (along with elk). They've been reintroduced and we've now got both subspecies back in the state. The area I'm more likely to go to does in fact have O. canadensis californica. The other subspecies lives closer to the Idaho border and it's not a day trip for me. Posted 8 years ago, modified 8 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        I was of course only joking, sort of. At least it planted an idea :) Posted 8 years ago
      2. Barry
        
        Lion
        
        I have been in places where they supposedly were on several occasions and have still never seen them. There was an article in some magazine I saw that among hunters these are considered far and away the most difficult animal in North America. I abhor hunting, but I can understand why they say that. Posted 8 years ago

The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep

Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is a subspecies of bighorn sheep. Early taxonomic schemes included herds from British Columbia to southern California in a broader subspecies "Ovis canadensis californiana". More recent genetic testing has indicated that "O. c. californiana" consists of only a small population located in the southern and central Sierra Nevada, hence should be renamed "Ovis canadensis sierrae."

Info 6 0

Similar species: Even-toed Ungulates

Species identified by Ferdy Christant