Wild Sheep «TRUSTED · 2024»

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.

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

: 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 are the rugged ancestors of the

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 : You can estimate a wild sheep's age