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Bighorn Sheep

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Mammals

Banff National Park, Rockies

A group of bighorn sheep feeding on a rocky roadside shoulder.
Bighorn sheep gathered on a rocky roadside shoulder, where mineral-seeking sheep are often seen.

The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is an iconic ungulate of the Canadian Rockies; readily seen at mineral licks and along the Icefields Parkway. In Banff National Park, the Rocky Mountain subspecies (O. c. canadensis) inhabits alpine meadows, steep slopes, and cliffs.

Identification

Tan to brown coat; white rump and muzzle. Rams have massive curled horns (used in dramatic head-butting during rut); ewes have shorter, subtler horns. Larger than mountain goats; prefer open slopes and meadows rather than sheer cliffs. Lambs born May–June.

Habitat and diet

Bighorns favour open alpine and subalpine terrain; grasslands, talus, rocky slopes. Graze on grasses and forbs; seek mineral licks (sodium, calcium) in spring and summer, which concentrates them at predictable sites.

Behaviour

Herd animals; rams and ewes may separate outside rut. Rams engage in head-clashing displays in November–December. Excellent climbers but less extreme than mountain goats.

Viewing

Mineral lick viewing sites along the Bow Valley Parkway and Icefields Parkway offer reliable sightings. Lake Louise area, Mount Norquay road, and Parker Ridge are also productive. Maintain 30 m distance; never approach or feed.