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Ovis canadensis
Bighorns are named for the rams' large, curling horns. They are brownish tan with a tan/white rump. The males may weigh up to 143 kg (300 pounds). Ewes are considerably smaller and while having horns as well, their horns are shorter, more slender, and tend not to curve as much. These photos are of a lamb and ewe foraging in South Dakota's Badlands National Park.
Usually found near steep, rugged terrain where these sure-footed climbers climb to escape predators. They are found generally in mountains in the western US and Canada. Desert bighorns live much further south and into Mexico.
Spotted on Jun 3, 2012
Submitted on Jun 6, 2012
3 Comments
Cindy and Maria, US National Parks are often used as laboratories to study wildlife. In fact, the Yellowstone grizzly population was, I believe, the first population of animals ever studied using tracking devices. Tracking, either through the use of GPS, radio, or satellite collars is not uncommon in our National Parks. I've seen wolves, coyotes, cranes, elk, pronghorn, bears, bison and elk with transmitters on them, but less obvious are birds and small mammals. Each studied population needs a minimum number of animals tagged to create a statistically significant outcome, but I don't know how many of these sheep are tagged.
I'm not sure what they are studying, but the original Audubon Bighorns that inhabited this area were shot out a century ago and are now extinct. The animals I photographed are Rocky Mountain bighorns that were introduced in the 1960s. I suspect that while there may be specific study objectives, it is likely that they are looking at the population in a generalized way and collecting information that permits better management of what is still a relatively small population of animals (and therefore somewhat fragile). So, I'd suggest that they are collecting information on mortality and causes of mortality, natality, recruitment, habitat usage (lambing, wintering, summering areas, feeding areas), etc.
And could you please explain why they are collared? Thanks!
Hi Gordon, were many of the adults collared like this?