Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The smooth coat consists of guard hairs and dense fleece, varying from dark brown to grayish to pale tan depending on the region. The belly, rump patch, back of legs, muzzle, and eye patch are all white. The brown horns are found in both sexes, but are much larger in males. In females, the horns are slender and sabre-like, never forming more than half a curl. In males, the horns are massive and curl up, back over the ears, then curve down, forward, and up past the cheeks. In old (7-8 year old) males the horns may begin a second curl, with a spread of 83 cm / 33 inches.

Lead Region:  California/Nevada Region (Region 8)
Date Listed: Apr 20, 1999
Where Listed: U.S.A. (CA) Sierra Nevada

  • States/US Territories in which the Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep, Sierra Nevada is known to occur:  California
  • US Counties in which the Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep, Sierra Nevada is known to occur:  View All

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 11 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
03/25/2009 74 FR 12878 12883 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
08/05/2008 73 FR 45533 45604 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae) and Taxonomic Revision; Final Rule
02/13/2008 73 FR 8345 8346 Recovery Plan for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana)
07/25/2007 72 FR 40955 41008 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) and Proposed Taxonomic Revision
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
02/13/2008 Final Recovery Plan for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 4 of 4 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
03/25/2009 74 FR 12878 12883 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Completion
    • 02/13/2008 73 FR 8345 8346 Recovery Plan for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana)
  • Notice Final Recovery Plan Availability
    • 02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • 07/30/2003 68 FR 44808 44808 Draft Recovery Plan for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    09/30/2008 Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    08/05/2008 73 FR 45533 45604 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae) and Taxonomic Revision; Final Rule Final Rule Active
    07/25/2007 72 FR 40955 41008 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) and Proposed Taxonomic Revision Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep, Sierra Nevada

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep, Sierra Nevada.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: February 9, 2010