This dainty female bighorn sheep lives in Zion National Park in Utah. Zion has the perfect landscape for these sure-footed animals which gracefully hop around on very treacherous-looking cliff faces with incredible ease. They can navigate these terrains even as little lambs because pregnant mothers seek higher ground to give birth which is safer from predators. However, the areas that are safer from predators are less favorable for growing sufficient vegetation, so as soon as the lambs are agile on their feet they will follow their mother back down the cliff faces to find food. These animals are native to North America and their numbers suffered greatly with the introduction of domestic sheep which carry pathogens that are easily spread to wild populations. To me these bighorn sheep look more like goats and equally amusing to me, the white and fluffy mountain goats look more like sheep. Zion has a herd of over 400 sheep and is a great location to see these gorgeous creatures which are most often spotted between the tunnel and east entrance to the park.
For other posts about Zion National Park please click here.
Laura Lecce's art and photography 
I think that the only time I was able to see one was in BC, Canada. They have always amazed me. Wonderful photo!
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Thanks Margaret,
Glad you got to see one in person, they are so beautiful. Wish I got to see a male, the horns are so much more impressive!
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Nice photo and narrative Laura. I’ve always been in awe of the climbing ability of bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Even with specialized hooves their mobility over precipitous terrain seems impossible. Would like to see them in the wild sometime.
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Hi Nick,
Thanks for your comment. They certainly are nimble in navigating the most incredibly sheer ascents. I hope you do get to see some in the wild, it’s very cool. Zion is for many reasons well worth the trip!
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Very nice picture.
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Thank you for visiting and your comment. I see from your blog that you recently visited Komodo Island and took some amazing photos! I look forward to reading about your adventure.
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Thanks for visiting. Just last week I visited Komodo Island. It was really very exciting trip.
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Great picture Laura!
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Thanks Greta, have a great weekend!
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Toll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!>!!!>>>!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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