Rams

Wild sheep are larger than domestic sheep. Adult bighorn rams are about 100cm (~3 ft) at the shoulder, and weigh 90-135kg (200-300lbs). Adult thinhorn rams weigh about 10 kg less than bighorns.

The name ‘bighorn sheep’ came from the thick curling horns of the rams that can grow up to 127 cm (4 ft) in length, and 40 cm (15”) at the base. As the name implies, thinhorn sheep have shorter and thinner curling horns. The horns are used for display and fighting during the mating season or rut. As a normal process of horn wear, the first two years’ growth is often rubbed or broken off (broomed).

Ewes

Ewes are about 2/3rd the size and weight of the rams. The average weight for a bighorn ewe is 60kg (132 lbs), and the average weight for a thinhorn ewe is 50 kg (110 lbs). Their horns are shorter, thinner and less curled than the rams. It is difficult to tell bighorn ewes from thinhorn ewes from looking at them, but they are located in very different parts of BC. Juvenile rams are often mistaken for ewes, but their horn bases are heavier even at a young age.

Hair Coat

Normal coat shedding occurs in the springtime, and animals can look scruffy and bedraggled. It is important to know that these animals are healthy and to recognize this as a normal process.

It is also important to differentiate normal shedding from tick infestation. Though rarely a problem in wild sheep, ticks can cause them to spend more time scratching and grooming than eating. Affected animals can have bare patches, especially where they can reach with their horns (neck base).

SUB-SPECIES OF WILD SHEEP IN BC

Wild sheep and domestic sheep (Ovis aries), are both in the Family Bovidae and Subfamily Caprinae. They are phylogenetically related, however, they have evolved independently due to human selection of traits in domestic sheep that are better suited for livestock. These differences are important to note when considering the wild and domestic sheep interactions [eg1] and spread of disease. There are 4 subspecies of sheep in BC.

Bighorn Sheep

• Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis)
• California Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana)

Thinhorn Sheep

• Stone's Sheep (Ovis dalli stonei)
• Dall's Sheep (Ovis dalli dalli

SPECIAL SHEEP

The World Record Stone's sheep, the Chadwick Ram, was harvested in BC.