Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderArtiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans)
- FamilyBovidae (Bovids)
- GenusOvis (Sheep)
- SpeciesOvis canadensis (Bighorn Sheep)
About the Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) or bighorn is a species of sheep native to North America. It is named for its large horns. A pair of horns may weigh up to 14 kg (30 lb); the sheep typically weigh up to 143 kg (315 lb). 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.
Ovis canadensis is one of two species of mountain sheep in North America; the other species being O. dalli, the Dall sheep. Wild sheep crossed the Bering land bridge from Siberia into Alaska during the Pleistocene (about 750,000 years ago); subsequently, they spread through western North America as far south as Baja California and northwestern mainland Mexico. Divergence from their closest Asian ancestor (snow sheep) occurred about 600,000 years ago. In North America, wild sheep diverged... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Badlands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Jasper National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Glacier National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Banff National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Yellowstone National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Rocky Mountain National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 12 | Grand Teton National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 13 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 14 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 15 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 16 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 17 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Bighorn Sheep in Saguaro National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Bighorn Sheep sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Bighorn Sheep in Saguaro National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Bighorn Sheep in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.