Bighorn Sheep Portrait

Michele Avanti

#182 of 450

Michele Avanti

Roseburg, OR

$13.00

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Title

Bighorn Sheep Portrait

Artist

Michele Avanti

Medium

Mixed Media - Mixed Media

Description

BigHorn Sheep Portrait - a mixed media painting by Michele Avanti

While visiting the Bandon Wildlife Park, in Bandon, Oregon, I met a few of these incredible bighorn sheep. This particular ram was more than happy to visit with my camera. Their horns are fascinating, I hope you enjoy my interpretation of this wonderful mountain climbing mammal.

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Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a species of sheep native to North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to 14 kg (30 lb), while the sheep themselves weigh up to 140 kg (300 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.

Fighting for dominance or mating rights, males face each other, rear up on their hind legs, and hurl themselves at each other in charges of some 20 miles an hour. The resounding clash of horns can be heard echoing through the mountains as the confrontation is repeated—sometimes for many hours—until one ram submits and walks away. The animal's thick, bony skull usually prevents serious injury.