Canadian Rockies Wildlife

Huge Bighorn Rams Start Battling as the Sheep Rut Begins

The Largest Bighorn Sheep in the World reside in our location, here in Canada's Rockies. Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) engage in headbutting behavior, particularly during the rutting season, which is the mating season. The rutting season typically occurs in the fall, and it's a time when male bighorn sheep, known as rams, compete for dominance and access to females.

During this period, male bighorn sheep exhibit aggressive behavior to establish their social hierarchy and mating rights. One notable behavior is headbutting, which involves two rams facing each other and colliding their heads with significant force. This behavior is a way for them to establish dominance and determine which ram is stronger and more fit to mate with females.

The headbutting contests are not only a display of physical strength but also a means of determining the hierarchy within the group. Rams have specialized, thick skulls and large, curved horns that are adapted for absorbing the impact of these clashes. The sound of the collisions can be heard from quite a distance and serves as an auditory signal to other bighorn sheep in the area.

These Bighorn Ram headbutting competitions can be quite intense, and the clashes may result in injuries or broken horns. Despite the apparent aggression, these interactions are essential for maintaining a stable social structure within the bighorn sheep population and ensuring that the strongest and most dominant individuals have the opportunity to mate and pass on their genes.