One on one, for some very serious competition…

What weighs in at 280 pounds, is a herbivore/vegetarian, survives in a harsh desert environment, lives up to 15-20 years, climbs steep, rocky terrain with speed and agility, detects potential predators with keen eyesight and may go without visiting water for weeks or months? It is the Ovis Canadensis Nelsoni / The Desert Bighorn! 

The horns on an adult ram may weigh more than 30 pounds plus with growth rings indicating age. The Bighorn also use their horns as tools to break open cactus as a food source and for fighting.

Rams battle to determine the dominant animal, leader of the pack so to speak… Facing each other, rams charge head on from distances of 20 feet, then crashing their massive horns together with tremendous impact until one or the other ceases. They live in separate bands most of the year and then gather during the breeding season for some “head butting” usually July–October, but breeding may occur anytime.                                       

Text Info: Wikipedia.org / Photographer: GCE’s very own Barry Glazier