The harsh and rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains are the home of one of our largest mammals-the bighorn sheep. These relatives of our domestic sheep are so large that if you have good eyes you can see them at a great distance. An old bighorn ram may be three and one half feet high at the shoulder and weigh 250 pounds or more. The ewes, or females, are a little smaller.
If you do get close to a bighorn sheep, it will escape in a manner that leaves you gasping with astonishment. All of them-rams, ewes, and young lambs-have marvelous rock-climbing hoofs and know exactly how to use them.
The bottom of each of these two-toed hoofs looks like a pair of long, tough, black, rubber cups. Each cup has a sharp, hard rim. This non-skid sole can get a firm grip on almost and rock surface.
The sheep’s stocky, strong-boned ankles and legs are extremely nimble and powerful. too. This combination of feet and muscles makes it possible for the bighorn to leap from boulder to boulder with breathtaking speed. Also, it can easily go up or down a cliff steeper than the steepest house roof. And it calmly walks along lofty ledges almost too narrow for you to see. No wonder the bighorn sheep is sometimes called the ballet dancer of the animal kingdom!