Look Into My Eyes!

Majestic and agile, the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep stands as a prominent figure upon the steep and jagged walls of Colorado's stunning canyons. Despite its iconic status and undeniable prominence today, this remarkable bighorn sheep was perilously close to extinction at the turn of the century. Diseases introduced through European livestock, along with unregulated hunting practices, had severely decimated populations throughout the West, leaving only a small number of these native sheep to survive in Colorado during the early 1900s. Thankfully, due to the establishment of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and the dedicated conservation efforts undertaken in Colorado over the past century, bighorn sheep populations are now thriving and doing very well.

One day, as I was making my way to the magnificent Rocky Mountain National Park, I decided to take a longer and more scenic route through Loveland and the beautiful Big Thompson Canyon. As I drove along, I spotted a herd of female bighorn sheep gracefully navigating their rocky habitat. Seizing the moment, I pulled over and began shooting some pictures of these wonderful creatures. In the back of my mind, I was hoping to catch a glimpse of a male, particularly one adorned with those large and iconic horns. After capturing images for about 20 minutes, a very protective male suddenly caught sight of me, his intense gaze locked onto my camera. I distinctly remember how his eyes were glued to me as I continued to take pictures, filled with awe and excitement. Once he determined that I posed no threat, he and the rest of the herd gracefully moved on, leaving me with an unforgettable and incredible experience that I will always cherish.

Location: Big Thompson Canyon, Colorado