Bighorn Sheep Mating Ritual Mountain Habitat Stock Footage Video (100% Royalty-free) 3802576295 | Shutterstock

During mating season, a ram curls his upper lip in a behavior called the Flehmen response. This happens when he detects the scent of a ewe’s urine or pheromones to determine if she’s in heat. By curling his lip and lifting his head, he opens a special organ in the roof of his mouth called the Jacobson’s organ (or vomeronasal organ), which helps him analyze the scent. This unique behavior allows the ram to tell when a ewe is ready to mate — a fascinating and instinctive part of bighorn sheep cour

Breeding Sheep (a guide to sheep mating & reproduction)