Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) are native to Arizona, and their populations fall within two categories: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (pictured here, near Morenci in Eastern Arizona) and desert bighorn sheep. Characterized by their large horns and muscular bodies, Rocky Mountain bighorns predominantly roam in mountainous regions in Northern and Eastern Arizona. Males can weigh up to 250 pounds and have much more pronounced horns than their female counterparts. While ewes’ horns can grow to 10 to 13 inches long with a circumference of 5 to 6 inches, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, rams’ horns can sometimes measure as much as 40 inches along the outside curl. These fascinating ruminants thrive on grasses, shrubs and cactuses.