BIGHORN SHEEP
THE WORLD OF THE
MOUNTAIN WALKERS
By Caitlind L. Alexander
A LearningIsland.com
15 - Minute Book
Editor: Jennifer Robinson
Pictures by Photos.com and Clipart.com unless otherwise noted.
Smashwords Edition
(c) Copyright 2004 Caitlind L. Alexander. All rights reserved.
Published by LearningIsland.com.
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Bighorn Sheep; The World of the Mountain Walkers / Caitlind L. Alexander
Summary: A brief look at bighorn sheep.
1. Bighorn Sheep. Juvenile Literature. 2. Wild Animals Juvenile Literature.
Created in USA
Words: 1795
Reading Level: 3.6
Ages 7 and up.
What is a Bighorn Sheep?
Bighorn sheep look like large sheep with big horns. But the bighorn sheep are different from the sheep you see on a farm.
A bighorn sheep's fur is straighter than a farm sheep's fur. Also it can be brown, not just white or black. Bighorn sheep may also have a patch of white fur on their rump, even if the rest of their fur is dark.
All sheep, including bighorn sheep, have fur that grows thick in the winter. That keeps them warm when the weather gets cold. They shed their fur when the weather turns warm.
Bighorn sheep also have big horns. They start at the top of the head and grow backwards in a circle. Some sheep have horns so big that they circle all the way around to the front.
Even female bighorn sheep have horns, but they are smaller. They also aren't curved as much.
Bighorn sheep are great mountain climbers. They love to climb up cliffs and steep rocks. They can scramble up a rock face so steep that it would take a person hours to climb it.
Male bighorn sheep are called rams. Female bighorn sheep are called ewes and their babies are called lambs. Those are the same names that farm sheep have.
Bighorn rams will often have fights with each other. This only happens during one part of the year. The rest of the time the rams are very good friends.
Rams can fight for up to 26 hours! When they fight, they run full speed at each other.