The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a species of sheep unique to North America and is named for its large horns. Big Horns can often be seen in Yellowstone. The horns can weigh up to 30 pounds, while the sheep themselves weigh up to 300 pounds. As horns, they do not shed and a ram's age and health can be determined by their growth rings. The tips of the horns often break off as the rams fight with each other for breeding rights or because the ram has broomed them off by rubbing the tips on hard (usually rock) surfaces for a better view. Soda Butte Creek confluence with Lamar River, Yellowstone.
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