In Europe, the species inhabits Mediterranean maquis (shrubland), rocky areas, and open coniferous forest and green oak forest. It is absent from dense woodland (Röhrs 1999). Mouflon are hunted for trophies and meat.

This Red List assessment refers to populations of Ovis aries that were introduced to Mediterranean islands in prehistoric times, known as Mouflon. These feral descendants of primitive domestic stock are clearly distinct from modern domestic and feral sheep, and are of conservation interest as "living fossils" and repositories of important genetic diversity (Shackleton 1997). More recent feral populations, and recently-introduced populations of ancient feral forms, are not considered as part of the population for the purposes of the assessment; neither are domestic Ovis aries.

The Mouflon was introduced in prehistoric times to Corsica, Sardinia and Cyprus. Since the middle of the 18th Century it has been introduced to many parts of Europe and populations have become established in many countries including Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine, and the Canary Islands (Röhrs 1999). These introduced mainland populations are patchily rather than continuously distributed. In Corsica it is found from sea-level to above 2,000 m, whereas in Cyprus it is found from sea level to about 500 m.

The Mouflon is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention, and on Annexes II and IV of the EU Habitats and Species directive (populations on Corsica and Sardinia only). It is protected under national legislation in Sardinia, Corsica, and Cyprus. The Corsican population is being studied as part of an EU LIFE Project. As part of this project they are looking into increasing the population through captive breeding, and improving genetic vigour by mixing the two subpopulations (S. Aulagnier pers. comm. 2006).