Bighorn Sheep in the Grand Canyon

Bighorn sheep are an iconic symbol of the Western United States. The males are unmistakable,
with their large curved horns. These nimble animals live in mountainous and rocky areas, and are
known for their ability to scale near-vertical cliffs. At weights that can exceed 300 pounds
(males), bighorns are the largest wild sheep species in North America. Males are called rams and
females are called ewes.
While bighorn sheep do live in and around the Grand Canyon, they blend in well with their
surroundings, so it takes a sharp eye (and patience) to spot one. Learn more about bighorn sheep
below.
Bighorn Sheep Range
Bighorns can be found in the Rocky Mountains, from Southern Canada to New Mexico, and in
the deserts of the Southwestern U.S., as well as Baja California.
Sub-Species
There are several sub-species of the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). They include:
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ovis c. sierrae): These bighorns are stocky, with
brown fur and thick horns that can weight an impressive 30 poundsmore than all the
bones in the animals body combined. They inhabit the Rocky Mountain range in the
U.S. and Canada, and can be found as far south as New Mexico.
Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis c. nelsoni): Found throughout the deserts of the
Southwestern U.S., the desert bighorn is lighter-colored and slightly less stocky than the
Rocky Mountain bighorn. Desert bighorns have more slender horns, although they can
grow to weigh as much as those of the Rocky Mountain bighorns. The Peninsular
Desert Bighorn Sheep are a distinct population segment of desert bighorns that live on
the desert slopes of Californias Peninsular Ranges.
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis c. sierrae): A genetically distinct subgroup of
bighorn sheep, Sierra Nevada bighorns are an endangered group that live in Californias
Sierra Nevada Mountains. They range in color from white to dark brown, and have
massive horns (males).
Diet and Behavior
Bighorns are herbivores, meaning that their diet consists entirely of plant foods. Like all
ungulates, bighorn sheep have multi-chambered stomachs that enable them to digest the grasses,
sedges, and seeds on which they feed. They regurgitate their food and chew it as cud before the
final digestion process, which helps them digest the tough plant fibers. In the warmer months
bighorns tend to stay at higher elevations to graze. In the winter months they move into lower
elevations to escape snow and forage on woody plants, such as willow and rabbit brush. Desert
bighorns eat brushy plants and cactus.
Bighorn sheep tend to live in large groups, with females separate from males until the mating
season. Female groups follow a non-linear hierarchy based on age. Females stay with their herd
for life, while males leave their maternal group between two and four years of age. In the wild
the lifespan of a bighorn sheep is around 10 years.1

Rams Really Do Ram

Many people are familiar with the extraordinary head-butting displays of the males during rut
(the mating season). Two male competitors will walk away from each other, then turn and run
toward each other at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, lunging into head-butts. To absorb the
impact (up to 800 pounds of force) of these head-butts, rams have double-layered skulls
reinforced with heavy bone struts. While they are seemingly unhurt by the impact, their horns
can sustain damage during head-butting sessions, which can go on for up to 24 hours.
Population Decline, Comeback, and Conservation Efforts
Just two hundred years ago bighorn sheep were widespread, with an estimated 1.5 to 2 million
animals throughout the Western U.S., Canada, and northern Mexico.2 By 1900 their populations
were in serious declinedown to just a few thousand animalsdue to hunting, human
encroachment, disease brought by livestock, and competition from ranching.
Efforts have been made to restore populations through habitat preservation, restrictions on
hunting, and other measures. Since the 1960s their numbers have increased. Today there are tens
of thousands of bighorn sheep in total, and populations are stable.3
Bighorns in the Grand Canyon
While sightings of bighorn sheep in the Grand Canyon are somewhat rare, lucky visitors may
catch a glimpse of these extraordinary animals during their visit, especially while hiking in the
canyon. In 2007 a visitor documented an extreme close encounter on video of a Rocky Mountain
bighorn male/female pair on the popular Bright Angel Trail.4
One of the best ways to try your hand at seeing a bighorn sheep is on a Grand Canyon tour. You
can try a bus tour with a hike, or a helicopter tour for a unique and exhilarating way to see the
canyon from above, while a river rafting tour on the Colorado River gives visitors an entirely
different perspective.