What Kind of Habitat Does a Bighorn Sheep Live In?

These generally diurnal ungulates are grazing animals who eat grass and a lot of broad-leaved herbaceous plants such as phlox, cinqefoil and clover. Grass-wise, bighorn sheep tend to gravitate toward wheatgrass, fescues and bluegrass among others. Those in arid desert environments also eat a lot of cactus and holly. Foliage, shoots and twigs also make up their basic diet. Bighorn sheep generally weigh between 140 and 300 pounds, according to the Defenders of Wildlife organization. They usually are deep brown, lighter brown or gray.

These sturdy sheep are native to the United States, Canada and Mexico. They are especially common in northern Mexico and in western Canada and the western United States. They do not appear outside of North America. States that have bighorn sheep include Idaho, Utah, California, New Mexico and Nevada.

The natural habitat of these herbivorous mammals includes foothills, alpine meadows and slopes of mountains that have ample grass. Bighorn sheep do well in especially steep areas, as the tiny ledges often make for effective escapes against the species' biggest predators, such as bears, bobcats, mountain lions and coyotes. Bighorn sheep are typically drawn to locations near bluffs and rough, uneven-surfaced cliffs.

Bighorn sheep are not an endangered species, according to the Red List of Threatened Species from the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They are part of the "least concern" department because of their stable, under-control populations. However, potential risks include poaching. In Mexico, problems include damage to bighorns' habitat and competition with livestock over sustenance.