Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) is in the Bovids family (Bovidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,455 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
Conservation status (iNaturalist): VU.
When to photograph Aoudad: observations by month (U.S.)
About Aoudad
The Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) or aoudad is a species of caprid native to rocky mountains in North Africa. Six subspecies have been described. Although it is rare in its native North Africa, it has been introduced to North America, southern Europe, and elsewhere. It is also known in the Berber language as awdad, waddan, arwi, and arrwis.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Aoudad by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,131 | April | Feb–Nov |
| New Mexico | 256 | March | Mar–May |
| California | 61 | August | Jul–Dec |
| Oregon | 5 | September | Aug–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Bovids)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Aoudad?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from February to November.
Where is Aoudad most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, New Mexico, California.