What Do a Bighorn Sheep’s Curly Horns Tell Us?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What do a bighorn sheep’s curly horns tell us?

The Big Idea

A bighorn sheep's curly horns are like a tree ring record of its age! The horns grow in a spiral, and a new ring forms on them every year. So if you count the rings, you can estimate how old the sheep is.

Spiral Horns

Step one: spiral horns. Bighorn sheep grow horns that curl around in a spiral, and the horns never fall off. They just keep growing a little more each year.

Yearly Rings

Step two: yearly rings. Each year, a new ring forms on the horn, just like a ring inside a tree trunk. Scientists can count the rings to estimate the sheep's age.

Big Clashes

Step three: big clashes. Male sheep grow huge horns that can weigh as much as 30 pounds! In autumn they test each other with head-to-head clashes, and thick skulls protect their heads.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! This is a bighorn sheep, and it lives in the Rocky Mountains. Its horns curl in a big spiral. Each year, one more ring marks the horn. Count the rings, and you can guess how old it is.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Bighorn sheep live in the Rocky Mountains, including around Banff and Jasper. A male's horns can weigh as much as 30 pounds. That is heavier than a big bowling ball! Always watch wild sheep from far away.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Wrap a pipe cleaner into a spiral to make a horn. Use a marker to add one ring for each year. Count the rings, just like a scientist would. How old is your sheep?

Outro

Bighorn horns record the years, one ring at a time. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!