Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) were the first animals we saw in Yellowstone, although they weren't easy to see. We stopped at a parking lot where people were looking up at the mountains. Even with binoculars the sheep were difficult to spot since they were so high on a steep slope.


We got much closer to some young Bighorns in Badlands National Park since they were eating grass right at the edge of the road.

The mother shown here is wearing a radio collar, so the Park Service can track her as part of their restoration efforts.

The male Bighorn pictured below lives at the Syracuse zoo. We never got that close to a wild ram (and it's probably a good idea to keep some distance from them.)


This post is part of series on a western Road Trip.