Bighorn Sheep

Many mammals, like the bighorn sheep, have lost or are in the process of losing their winter coat. Before winter arrives, they grow thick fur to survive the long winter. And for the summer, so they don’t overheat, they lose their winter coat. During hikes, you will often come across clumps of fur that have fallen off the animals. Some birds will use the fallen fur for the nest building. I have seen chickadee take fur from dry wolf scats to help build their nest. Certain mammals not only grow thicker fur for the winter but, like snowshoe hares, arctic foxes and some weasels go from a darker summer coat to white for the winter. For the prey, it makes it easier for them to hide in the snow and for the predators, it makes it easier for them to hunt. For some of the mammals, they will have a topcoat called "guard hair" and a much thicker layer of underfur. This adult male bighorn sheep was at the bottom of the valley looking for minerals to lick, and its mates who had already gone back up the slopes for safety.

Bighorn Sheep

I’ll never forget when I first heard the sounds of two rams hitting their horns together. It was the middle of the summer; both males were on the roads, licking minerals. One was pushing the other, when both looked at each other before their heads collided. Even though it was not with the same force that would have taken place during the rut season, it was still very loud. As if two large boulders had collided. Rams can weigh over 300 pounds and their horns can exceed 30 pounds. The force that is used when two male collide during the rut, scientists using the equation Force = mass x acceleration, 800lbs of force. A collision between two rams can be heard over a mile away. With their thick skulls, the rams are well protected from this force and it has been found that the volume of blood pumped to the brain increases before the collision occurs. This helps to create a “bubble wrap effect”. Just for comparison, an NHL player puts 100lbs of force when hitting the puck with a slap shot. And these horns for females and males, are made out of the same material as our nails are made of, keratin. A type of protein. I get my keratin when consuming eggs.

Bighorn Sheep

It was only nine days ago, it was warmer and not all of the valley bottom was covered with snow. SInce then a few small snow storms have gone though, and now we're getting into cold temperatures.

Bighorn Sheep

During one of the higher altitude meadow exploring we came across this bighorn sheep ram. It posed just in the right place, with Mount Assiniboine in the background. Providing more than enough time for me to get the pictures.

Bighorn Sheep

This ewe and other Bighorn Sheep were moving along the valley, then one by one they started climbing, in few seconds this female was twenty meters above me looking down, the dust still settling. A good skill to have when trying to get away from predators.

Bighorn Sheep

I came across this young ram bottom of the valley, licking minerals off the ground. With the warmer weather, they are losing their winter coat and gaining weight with green vegetation to eat. But even with al the food warm weather brings to this and other bighorn sheeps, they still need to find minerals to stay healthy.

Bighorn Sheep

Spring is here but so is winter, during the longer days snow is melting and providing support to many animals dealing with the outdoors. For last several days, the nights have been cold, but by midday there is some warmth, enough to remove some snow and opening up hidden vegetation for the wildlife. 

Bighorn Sheep

How time flies, the 8th annual slideshow is coming up on Saturday, January 27. From 7 to 9 pm at the Cave and Basin NHS, for $4.90 per person.  Each year is different, the weather and the amount of visitors to the parks played a big role in 2017, creating different opportunities for landscape, flora and fauna photography. If you're able to, come join me as I  look back at some of the favourite moments from 2017 and the stories that go with them. 

Bighorn Sheep

It was a cold afternoon and this male was doing lot of work moving snow aside to get at the dead grass. The dead grass does not have much value but during the winter there are not lot of options. 

Bighorn Sheep

It has become a funny habit of mine, getting pictures of various animals having their tongue sticking out. In most cases they are eating and simply the animals seem to be cleaning their lips. In the case of this bighorn sheep, the male was licking minerals off the ground and the tongue came out to remove anything that might be on its lips.

Bighorn Sheep

A male bighorn sheep makes it look so easy moving down on a rock wall that is crumbling piece at a time.

Bighorn Sheep

It was a sunny day, these three were licking minerals and taking in the sunshine. It's amazing how easy they make it look, standing on the very smallest ledges. Only mammal that gives the mountain goats run for their money when it comes to maintaining balance in the Rockies side of steep slpoes.

Bighorn Sheep

This lamb like other offsprings don't get much time to relax, they are on their feet in less then 30 minutes of birth and need to be able to follow their mother within 24 hours. They have to learn to face the elements right away, there are few places which gives them any amount of protection in the wild. Only about 50 percent of the lamb will get through their first year, because of predation, starvation, accidents and disease. I remember two years ago a two month old lamb had to outrun a wolf, that time the lamb's wild instinct saved the day. Perhaps that lamb was part of the 50 percent that survived its first year.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bighorn Sheep

It was a gathering of most of the male Bighorn Sheep that hang out in the Mount Norquay area. I spotted them all sitting in a open area at the end of the day. I am so used to taking picture of wildlife as they move from one area to another. Here I was doing the moving around, to get the best angle for the picture. I would have had preferred my wide lens to get all the males in the frame, but I was not carrying that with me. So it was the zoom lens that got used to get this picture.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bighorn Sheep

This ram was in the way, while I waited for it to move aside I started to take its pictures. I decided to take pictures straight on with the male looking right into the camera. It took couple of trys for me to time the picture I wanted. It did not seem to care about me being there, but after few minutes it looked right toward me and I got the picture.

Until next moment,

Amar

Lamb

This lamb just about a week old was bit shy about being in public. While the adults were out in the open, the lamb took its time joining them. They had made their way down to the bottom of the valley, probably for the first time for this lamb. Its growing pretty fast and gainning confidence each day, before long it will be running with the big boys and girls.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bighorn Sheep

A young adult bighorn sheep walking by as I watch partial double rainbows.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bighorn Sheep

A adult bighorn Sheep male takes in some minerals, a important part of their diet.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bighorn Sheep

There's always one looking the other way. They were slowly moving away from me when the yearling looked back toward me for few seconds. Helping my get the picture.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bighorn Sheep

I was not able to get the whole sheep in the picture with the lens I had on my camera. So started working on a composition that would give me a decent picture. Did not have much time, as they were about to move away from me. Did not think I had the picture I was looking for, but changed my mind once I saw it on the monitor.

Until next moment,

Amar