Zion National Park Foundation Adopt-a-Bighorn Project

01/24/2017

Snow doesn't keep the bighorns from posing for a picture. I think they're enjoying it.

The bighorn sheep are surviving the winter as this photo from Andrew Aegerter can testify. Photo take on the Canyon Overlook Trail, Saturday, January 21st. Thanks Haley and Andrew for sharing!

09/06/2016

This video captures a number of breeding behaviors that biologists look for during bighorn sheep monitoring. Look for head butting, mounting, and flehmen response--rams curling their upper lip after catching a whiff of pheromones from the ewe.

09/01/2016

It's breeding season in Zion! Our big rams are in rut and competition is fierce, as we saw today. Come out to the east side of the park and enjoy!

04/21/2016

Lambing season is in full swing! Most ewes give birth to one lamb per year, and twins are possible but rare. Lambs are very mobile within a few days of birth, and are typically weaned when they are five months old. Community nursery groups of ewes and lambs are currently being spotted on the slopes and in the washes of the east side of the park.

04/01/2016

The Zion Canyon Field Institute Thursday Trek group was privileged to see these bighorn while out with Field Institute Director Michael Plyler on March 31st. For more Thursday Trek and other classes offered by ZCFI, visit our website http://zionpark.org/classes/category/spring/.

08/26/2015

This year's lambs are growing up fast! Most are completely weaned from their mothers and the females will be producing lambs of their own in 2-3 years.

08/18/2015

The rut (mating season) for our desert bighorn sheep doesn't start until October, but the rams have rejoined the herds and are beginning to show rutting and dominance behavior. Watch and listen (always from a distance!) for the spectacular head butting displays by rams. -jsm

Photo credit: Lip curl - NPS, Rams butting - Jack Blanchart

07/15/2015

This magnificent bighorn ram was killed in a vehicle collision on Monday night along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway on the east side of Zion National Park. Wild animals are regularly killed by vehicles on park roads. You can help protect the wildlife of Zion by reducing speed and keeping your eyes on the road.

06/30/2015

This time of year, bighorn sheep are more likely to be concentrated near the road on the east side of Zion National Park. The area near the road stays wetter longer and plants stay lush, providing the sheep with a source of food. This provides an excellent opportunity for viewing the sheep, but also increases the risk of vehicle collisions. Please drive slow and watch for sheep and other wildlife while driving through the park. -jsm