Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sierra-nevada-bighorn-sheep

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Ovis canadensis sierrae
2. What is the conservation status?Federally endangered subspecies since January 2000
3. What makes the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep special?They live high in the Sierra Nevada mountains above 8,000 feet, on steep rocky slopes and snowy meadows. They have big horns and are adapted to cold, bright sun, and heavy snow.
4. Why are Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep endangered?Their numbers fell because of hunting, habitat loss, and disease. They were listed as endangered in 2000 and need help to survive.

Subspecies: A taxonomic rank below species, representing a geographically isolated population with distinct characteristics.
Indicator Species: An organism whose presence, absence, or abundance reflects the condition of an ecosystem.
Adaptive Management: A systematic process for improving management policies by learning from the outcomes of previous management actions.