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Bighorn Sheep |
A full grown bighorn, around 8 years of age, could reach 300
pounds. A few of the largest males weigh more. Females are smaller but they
still weigh around 160 pounds. They are stocky and they are among the largest
wild sheep in the world. Bighorns spend most of their time walking for hours,
eating on grasses, sedges and other low growing plants. Coyote, cougars,
grizzly bears and wolves hunt for bighorns, but they can almost always escape
by climbing up a rocky cliff.
The park is known for its herds of Rocky
Mountain Bighorn Sheep and no trip is complete without spotting them. A
favorite place is at Sheep Lakes in Horseshoe Park. They come down Bighorn
Mountain on almost a daily basis to graze and search for salts that collect in
the sinkholes of the Sheep Lakes. Their schedule is very erratic but in June
and July 2:37pm on Sunday afternoon is a good bet. Just kidding.
You
also may find them near the Fall River Road and in the high country of Trail
Ridge Road. |
Park Critters