What Does a Wild Sheep Eat?

Wild sheep, like many undomesticated animals, rely on their surroundings to obtain food. While many animals in the wild stalk their prey for the purpose of obtaining nutrition, wild sheep survive on a mostly vegetarian diet. What they eat varies day to day and is mostly determined by it habitat and season.

  1. Grass

    • As bland as it may sound to humans, grass is a favorite food for most wild sheep. This is based primarily on the fact that grass is easily obtainable and is plentiful year round. Kinds of grass available to sheep in the wild include cereal grass, bamboo, turf grass and sweet grass, which is a particular favorite of sheep in the wild due to its sweet, yet nutty texture. Because of its readiness, nutritive quality and abundance, wild sheep may graze on grass as needed to ensure adequate hydration and carbohydrate intake.

    Clover

    • Clover is another favorite of wild sheep. Because there are over 300 varieties of clover that grow naturally in the wild, clover is easily accessible and generally obtainable year round. Some of the most frequent types of clover chosen by sheep in the wild include the leguminous pea, alfalfa, shamrock and sweet clover, which is a particular favorite of wild sheep due to its sweet, milky flavor. In addition to its abundance, clover is also rich in carbohydrates and antioxidants, which help give sheep the energy they need to survive.

    Shrubs

    • A myriad of shrubs provide excellent nutrient value in addition to variety. Some of the most commonly available shrubs consumed by wild sheep, particularly bighorn sheep, include encelia, acacia or catclaw, krameria and sweetbush, again a favorite to most wild sheep due to its natural sweetness and flavor. Shrubs are typically abundant in the spring, summer and early fall in regions where harsh winters and snow are prevalent, but are available year round in areas of warmer climate.

    Forbs

    • Of all natural foods that are available to sheep in the wild, forbs are perhaps their most preferred. Forbs, broad leafed flowering plants, which are highly nutritious and flavorful, grow in abundance in pasture areas and in locations where wild grasses and clover grow wild. Examples of common types of forbes include sunflowers and milkweed, both of which are high in carbohydrates and aid in the digestive and hydration processes of wild sheep.