iN PHOTOS: The courtship behaviour of bighorn rams in Okanagan, Kamloops

Bighorn rams in the Okanagan and Kamloops have been busy bashing their big curled horns together to decide which will take over harems of ewes this past month in an annual rut, which runs from October to January.

The displays are often loud and aggressive, and an impressive sight to behold with the rams snorting and grunting to attract ewes and intimidate rival males.

During this time, the ewes are in estrus, a period where they are receptive to mating, and the rams can be seen with their lips curled up, sniffing the air for the female pheromones.

Once a dominant ram secures a harem, he uses a series of courtship behaviours to complete the mating process. He rubs his scent on rocks and trees to mark his territory and let the ewes know he is ready to mate, according to Bighorn Rut.

The males are seen following close behind the females, sitting beside them and rubbing their noses on them before quickly mounting and fertilizing them. The gestation for the sheep is roughly six months, so newborn lambs arrive in the spring when there is plenty of forage around.