Bighorn sheep need a drier slope in the winter season as they face difficulties while walking in the snow. Their usual habitat consists of the grassy slopes of the mountain, and foothills of rocky cliffs and bluffs. They need that space where snowfall is not more than 6 inches annually.
Sheep do not usually attack or are aggressive in nature. They love to keep a safe distance from predators, as well as humans. Female sheep are docile and do a rapid flight to survive the attack of predators. The natural instinct of a sheep is to flee but not fight with the upcoming danger.
Sheep teeth are unique as they lack upper incisor, still they can easily cut their food using only lower set of incisor. A sheep’s teeth can be used to estimate its age by seeing their lower set of incisor especially up to the age of four.
Bighorn sheep likes to eat clover, sedges, and grasses during the summer months. They graze on brushy plants like cactus and holly in desert areas and consume woody plants like willow and sage during the colder months.
Mountain sheep and mountain goats belong to the same family, yet they differ in several ways. Following is the list of comparisons between mountain sheep and mountain goats based on their characteristics and behavior.
The following are some of the most typical behaviors we witness in bighorn sheep.
Playful
Matrilineal
Philopatry
Diurnal
Social
Terrestrial
Defensive
Congregatory
Polygyny (mating behavior)
Migratory
Rams can be found in various environments, including gorges and high, open slopes. However, these adult sheep can also be found in hot, arid desert areas with rocky, uneven terrain with little vegetation.
Sheep milk offers several benefits compared to other cattle like goat and cows. People usually think that only cows and buffaloes contribute to the dairy. But this is not completely true, sheep also contributes to the dairy. Sheep milk is known for its remarkable properties and benefits.
