Yellowstone day 1, The Gardner River and Gardner River Canyon

Bighorn sheep, ewe

The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to 30 lb, while the sheep themselves weigh up to 300 lb. Recent genetic testing indicates three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: O. c. sierrae. Sheep originally crossed to North America over the Bering land bridge from Siberia: the population in North America peaked in the millions, and the bighorn sheep entered into the mythology of Native Americans. By 1900, the population had crashed to several thousand, due to diseases introduced through European livestock and overhunting. Conservation efforts (in part by the Boy Scouts) have restored the population.

Photo 73, Sept 2007

detail of above

Photo 73d, Sept 2007

Yellowstone day 1, The Gardner River and Gardner River Canyon

Bighorn sheep, ewe

Photo 74, Sept 2007

detail of above

Photo 74d, Sept 2007

Yellowstone day 1, The Gardner River and Gardner River Canyon

Bighorn sheep, ewe

Photo 75, Sept 2007

detail of above

Photo 75d, Sept 2007

Yellowstone day 2, near Calcite Springs

Female Bighorn sheep (ewe), relatively young judging by the amount of curvature in the horn

Photo 215, Sept 2007