Wild Sheep -

Wild sheep are the rugged ancestors of the domestic sheep we see on farms today, but they are built for survival in some of the world's most inhospitable terrains. Unlike their domestic cousins, they do not need to be shorn; they naturally shed their lighter summer coats and grow thick, woolly undercoats to survive freezing winters.

: You can estimate a wild sheep's age by counting the rings on its horns, much like a tree. These rings form annually during the winter when horn growth slows down. wild sheep

Wild sheep are primarily found across the Northern Hemisphere, spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. Wild sheep are the rugged ancestors of the

While populations of North American bighorns have rebounded thanks to efforts by groups like the Wild Sheep Foundation , many species face threats from habitat loss and diseases transmitted by domestic livestock. The Argali , in particular, is considered endangered in parts of its range due to poaching for its trophy horns. These rings form annually during the winter when

Wild sheep are highly social but often live in separate groups: ewes and lambs in "nursery herds," and rams in "bachelor groups".During the autumn mating season, known as the , rams compete for dominance through head-butting battles. They can charge at each other at speeds up to 40 mph, with the impact sound audible from over a mile away. Their skulls are double-layered and reinforced with bone to absorb these massive shocks. Conservation Status

( Ovis dalli ): Known for their stunning white coats, these inhabit the subarctic mountain ranges of Alaska and northwest Canada.

: Their hooves are split and have rough, rubbery bottoms that act like suction cups, allowing them to scale near-vertical cliffs to escape predators.