The Horns are Back in Town

By Natali Zollinger

The most anticipated animal to see on the Green and Yampa Rivers through Dinosaur National Monument is the Desert Bighorn Sheep. Believed to have gone extinct in the region, for unknown reasons we find them flourishing back to reclaim their once dominated territory.

Bighorn Sheep are a vital resource because they provided food, clothing and tools to the natives of Utah both past and present. Due to the growth of the domestic sheep, bighorns began to die off resulting from a serious disease epidemic. Scientists were forced to believe that the Bighorn had completely been lost from Utah due to no sightings of them for several years. But in the 60’s, river rats began to see bighorns along the Colorado River system and its corridors. The current population in Utah is estimated at around 5,000 sheep, representing two genetic species—the desert bighorn and the Rocky Mountain bighorn. Mountain sheep are nearly twice the size of desert bighorn, and rams can weigh up to 300 pounds. Ewes of both species are about 40 percent smaller in size and weight.
 
Bighorns are amazing creatures. Floating downstream on the Green River, one may see a whole herd lightly prancing down the Cliffside without a worry in the world. One may ask, why are they so good on their feet? Their balance aiding split hooves with rough bottoms are the perfect natural Vibram sole. Imagine going to your local tire shop and checking out the most rugged off-road tire they sell. The reasons tires can handle so much wear and tear is because of the way they are designed to act when wrapped around sharp objects like rocks and trees. Some trail running and outdoor apparel companies are starting to use this design for their tread of the sole. It’s an amazing concept when you see it you understand why the bighorn can float across rugged obstacles with such grace and ease.

The horns of a ram (on the male) are always a site to see. The larger and more circular in shape they are, the older the age of the ram. If one sees a completed circle, it is said to be around 8 years of age. Females have horns, but they are much smaller and only grow up to a certain length.  A ram fighting for dominance with such horns is always an entertaining show; they will face each other, rear up on their hind legs, and hurl themselves at each other for hours until one submits and walks away. Luckily the animal’s thick, bony skull usually prevents serious injury. I’ve seen this often floating down the river, and it is quite a show and a great picture if you are close enough.

It’s common to see a large group together eating and drinking by the riverside. Rams will live with other rams, while females live in herds with other females and their young rams. Come fall, the groups will join forces to compete, mate and regain their hierarchy in the canyon. Then in winter, the bighorns move to lower elevation mountain pastures to gorge on grass, seeds and plants. Bighorns are like cows in that they regurgitate their food and chew it as cud before swallowing it for final digestion. The bighorn sheep’s only predator in our region is the mountain lion, and for small sheep, there have been sightings of golden eagles carrying them away.

If you stay at Jones Hole on the Green River through the Gates of Lodore, you may walk up a trail near Jones Creek, which will take you to the Deluge Shelter where you’ll find one of the most photographed pictures of a bighorn sheep in all of Dinosaur National Monument. Early Fremont culture (300-1600 A.D.) doodled along the Cliffside to leave behind messages and clues to the later inhabitants.

John Wesley Powell had several encounters of sheep documented in his journals while exploring the Green and Colorado Rivers. Echo Park, near the confluence of the Green and Yampa, got its name from the gunshots, which echoed through canyon walls in hopes of killing a few sheep to serve hungry men. Sheep Canyon near the closing of Cataract Canyon was also a place named after a large sighting of sheep that were found, shot and killed for consumption.

The great news is that the sheep are expanding their territories as well as population numbers throughout the west. This will give us more opportunities to see and enjoy their wonderful presence, so next time you find yourself floating down the river in the early morning or evening, keep your eyes peeled. It’s hard because they blend in so well, but very satisfying once spotted and always make for a good picture.

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Written by Natali Zollinger