- SCIENTIFIC NAME
- Ovis canadensis californiana
- CLASSIFICATION
- Mammal
- LIFE SPAN
- 6-8 Years
- SIZE
- 60-65” | 100-220lbs
- STATE CONSERVATION STATUS
-
- Priority Species
- FEDERAL CONSERVATION STATUS
- Least Concern
- GAME STATUS
- Game
- GAME TYPE
- Big Game
- Washoe
- Humboldt
- Pershing
- Churchill
- Mineral
- Lyon
- Douglas
- Carson City
- Storey
- Elko
- Lander
- Eureka
- White Pine
- Esmeralda
- Nye
- Lincoln
- Clark
Habitat & Range
The California Bighorn Sheep is found in the slopes of the Sierra Nevada and prefers rugged, open areas with vegetation and grasses. They often move across their range as the seasons change.
- Alpine and Tundra
- Cliffs and Canyons
- Desert Washes
Threats
- Disease
- Habitat Fragmentation
- Habitat Loss
Natural History
California Bighorn Sheep are herbivores that spend their time grazing on sedges, grasses, and sagebrush. Mating season, called the “rut,” starts in fall and rams (male Bighorn Sheep) will compete to mate with females. Ewes, (female Bighorn Sheep) will have one lamb during spring to early summer.
Fun Facts
Are ruminants and possess a 4-chambered stomach, able to digest even the toughest parts of a plant. The horns of a ram are called "curls" and can weigh up to 30 pounds!
OTHER Species
