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DYK: Facts About Radium’s Bighorn Sheep

By Tourism Radium on February 4, 2022

Radium Hot Springs is known for the Bighorn Sheep that roam the Village. If you’ve spent time in town, you’ve probably seen them around! Here are a few facts that you may not know about the local Bighorns.

A Ram’s horn can weigh up to 30 pounds! That’s more than all of the other bones of the bighorn combined.

In the winter, Bighorn Sheep return from their summers in high-elevation areas to spend the colder months in Radium.

Female Bighorn sheep, called ewes, have short, spikey horns. Ewes generally travel together with the young sheep and babies.

Photo by Shaunna McInnis

Bighorn Sheep are used in concussion research! Scientists study the animals to discover how their skulls protect their brains from damage when headbanging.

Radium’s Bighorn Herd needs your help. Radium Hot Springs loves its famous local residents, the Bighorn Sheep. Sadly, the last few years have seen the decrease in sheep population due to sheep-vehicle incidents. Once at 250, the herd’s numbers dropped to 120 in Fall 2021. Between late November and mid-January, 10 more sheep have been killed by vehicle impacts in and around Radium – the majority on the Radium hill south of the Village. A number of others were hit by vehicles but able to scramble away, leaving them injured or worse. One driver ended up in hospital.

This cause can be supported by purchasing fundraising hoodies, t-shirts, and stickers or following the Help the Radium Bighorn Herd page to stay up-to-date.

Lead image by Shaunna McInnis

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