Jeff Wendorff's photography portfolio of
Bighorn Sheep from the family Bovidae.
The
Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to 30 lb (14 kg), while the sheep themselves weigh up to 300 lb (140 kg). Recent genetic testing indicates three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: O. c. sierrae. Sheep originally crossed to North America over the Bering land bridge from Siberia: the population in North America peaked in the millions, and the
Bighorn Sheep entered into the mythology of Native Americans. By 1900, the population had crashed to several thousand, due to diseases introduced through European livestock and overhunting. Conservation efforts (in part by the Boy Scouts) have restored the population.
It seems there is no specific collective noun for the
bighorn. Sheep are referred to as a
drove, a
flock and a
herd. Of course, I am going to suggest something more fun, a
curl, as the collective noun. This name is actually relevant (for a change) as it is the way trophy
Bighorn Sheep are measured
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www.wildlifeworkshops.com.
