Colorado’s Best Rock Climber: The Bighorn Sheep

Megan McMullen caught this glorious friend in an evening glow while driving through the Monument the day after Christmas. She is a winner of S+B’s photo contest.

Although the iconic horns of a ram make a great logo for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Colorado declares Bighorn Sheep as our official animal not for their distinctive silhouette, but because the species is native to the land and more of them reside here than in any other state. According to CPW’s 2019 population estimate, about 80 herds, some with up to 500 sheep, call Colorado home, totaling to almost 7000 furry residents. 

The terrestrial section manager of CPW, Brian Dreher, describes the significance of this presence on the local ecosystem, saying, “They occupy habitat in Colorado that is truly unique with steep, rugged terrain. They are not only an important herbivore, but they can also be prey for mountain lions and other species. The state animal provides amazing, watchable wildlife opportunities and are very popular for hunting, which funds their conservation and research.” This interview, combined with information from the CPW website, resulted in the following plethora of fun facts and best practices regarding the animal and its habitat. 

The first mystery of bighorn sheep is their talent at scaling steep rockfaces. Dreher explains that they have a low center of gravity due to relatively short legs and, more consequently, grippy pads on their hooves similar to the texture of rock-climbing shoes. The females are called ewes and have spike-like horns. Up to 10% of the males’, or rams’, 150 to 250 pounds of weight comprises their curled horns, which can take seven or eight years to fully form. Rams will collide horns with each other in battles for dominance of a herd, occasionally resulting in brooming — minor damages to their coils. 

The majority of Bighorns in Colorado are the Rocky Mountain species but Desert Bighorns roam about as well. Their environments and breeding seasons differ slightly, but the animals are otherwise alike. Rocky Mountain Bighorns breed in November and December. Their lambs, usually only one per mother, are born in April through July and can climb as well as the adults after a single day. The sheep spend their days grazing and retreating to rest on nearly inaccessible cliffs. They can live as long as 15 to 20 years. In the wild, ewes typically live to be 10 to 12, rams a bit less as a result of higher mortality rates. 

Predators for Bighorns include mountain lions, coyotes, eagles and roughly 300 recreational hunters annually. However, hunting licenses are highly regulated. Dreher emphasizes that only three to five percent of the total population of rams is allowed to be harvested. Hunting also plays an integral role in the State Population Management Plans. Bighorns are especially susceptible to viruses, parasites and bacteria that domestic livestock can carry. Restricting the size of Bighorn herds deters excess members of a flock from straying, coming into contact with domestic sheep or goats, getting sick and spreading infections. 

Maintaining a safe distance from any Bighorns also prevents sheep from spooking away from the group. The animals can be sensitive to disturbances in their surroundings, particularly during lambing season. In the words of Dreher, “These are species that need space, so a healthy respect for that can certainly help them coexist with people in Colorado.” 

Additionally, people should be mindful to protect the animal’s habitats. They typically occupy steep, high mountain terrain, deserts and land dominated by grass, low shrubs, rock cover and areas near open escapes. Dreher expresses awe at the sheep’s’ ability to live in extreme environments. 

“As we’ve learned more,” he explains, “we’ve realized a good amount of them live above treeline. They let the wind blow snow off their food and can even live on fourteeners. There aren’t many places they cannot live, meaning there’s also a lot of chance for interaction with bighorns.” 

If you see them, give them space and admire. 

Kyle Webb captured this sheep watching cars going by and doing some incredible climbing at the west end of the Monument. He is also a winner of S+B’s photo contest.

Originally published in the Spring 2021 issue

Webb also got this shot, especially liking how the curb looks like it turns into Broadway below. And the straw adds a bit of attitude, he says.