What are the names for male and female bighorn and how can you tell them apart?
A. Male bighorn sheep or “rams” are easily identified by their large spiral horns which grow throughout their lives. An adult ram’s horns may measure over 30 inches each in length and reach 15 inches in circumference at the base. Female bighorn or “ewes” have slender, straighter horns that grow throughout their lives to lengths of 8-10″ for Rocky Mountain bighorn ewes and 12-17″ for desert bighorn ewes. Young bighorn that are less than 1 year of age are referred to as lambs.
