Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn sheep offer an imposing presence being one of the symbols of the North American west. With its large and curling horns, these sheep are hardy animals that live comfortably in the cold mountains and are an extremely important element of the local wildlife in Glacier National Park.

While bighorn sheep once thrived in the area with its thick horns that sometimes grew to 45 inches in length (for males) and the ability to scale tall cliffs to seek haven from predators, there numbers are frightening few these days. About 200 years ago there were close to 2 million of these sheep, today, their numbers are in the hundreds surrounding Glacier National Park's area (600-800) and only 28K in North America.

The Bighorn’s population in Glacier National Park and on the North American continent has seen a huge decline –unfortunately due to the actions of man, but there is hope to once again get these strong and hardy sheep’s numbers back on track. With the efforts of a few conservationists to raise the numbers of these sheep, comes a much better understanding of these creatures. There is much that has been learned, but plenty that is still unknown about these great animals.

For those fascinated by the bighorn sheep and their habitat at Glacier National Park, Smithsonian Magazine has a wonderfully written article chock full of interesting tidbits, facts and photos. You can view it at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com

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