This marmot has a stout body with short legs and a bushy tail. Most of its body is chestnut brown, while the sides of the neck and underbody are yellow and there is a white mark on its nose. These animals feed on plants and hibernate in underground burrows from August to April.
This moderately large ungulate has a brown body, white patch on the rump and a short black tail. Females have short horns curving away from the head while males have large, distinctive curled horns. The horns grow a new ring each year, giving an indication of age. Males use their horns to great effect when fighting in the fall.
California Bighorn sheep are found in winter on the benches of the large grasslands rivers where there is low snowfall, and range up into higher elevations in summer. Steep rocky areas are important for escaping from predators and rearing their young.
Want to find out about species at risk in rocky talus slopes and rock outcrops?Go to Species at Risk
Here are some other representative species in rocky talus slopes and rock outcrops:
California Bighorn SheepFringed MyotisLittle Brown MyotisSkunkSpotted BatWestern Small-footed MyotisYellow-bellied MarmotYellow-pine ChipmunkRed:Pallid Bat
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