Fifth Grade
Worksheets
Bighorn Sheep
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are very proud of their horns. Male sheep, called rams, have large, curled horns. The permanent horns curve around like corkscrews. A pair of horns weighs between 20 and 30 pounds. The horns are a status symbol. These horns are also a weapon.
In the fall, bighorn sheep engage in head butting duels for control of an area. The rams charge each other and smash their horns together. Sometimes the duels last for hours. Eventually, one ram emerges as the winner. The duels don't result in any serious injuries to the rams. The bighorn sheep's skull offers protection similar to a football helmet. It features a double layer of bone to protect the brain. The sheep also have very thick hide on their faces. This hide also helps prevent damage from head butting.
Female bighorn sheep, called ewes, have horns, too. Their small horns aren't curled but curve backwards. Female bighorns live in groups with other females and their babies. Females have one baby at a time. The baby is usually born on a cliff that isn't easy to get to. The baby lamb is able to walk and climb when it's only one day old. Male lambs leave the female group after several years. Male bighorn sheep spend their lives in bachelor groups.
