Desert Bighorn Sheep
Desert Bighorn Sheep also known as ovis canadensis nelsoni. They travel across ground that is rough, rocky and steep, through canyons and washes. This type of terrain helps them in dealing with with predators. The Desert Bighorns live in regions of the state marked by hot summers and little annual rainfall.
Desert Bighorns are herbivores
A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage, for the main component of its diet.
The Class Clown
One day while traveling a road I have driven on so many times, I noticed a large herd of sheep on the rocks. I had stopped many times over the years to snap photos of these guys so today I thought would be the same kind of picture day. This particular ram was standing a short distance from the rest of the group, so I decided to focus on him. He looked over at me and posed a little, side stance gave me great pictures of the curl of his horns, next came the chin in the air, then he turned his head away just a bit for a better view of the curl of the horns. The next thing I know he turned his face toward me and stuck out his tongue.
Now I don’t know about you but at almost every family gathering there is always one character that can’t resist sticking out their tongue for the camera. Well this guy was no different, I am sure if I was a little closer I would have heard him laughing at me.
He is one of many in the band that hangs out around the Walker Lake area in central Nevada, anyone driving along in the early morning or early evening can usually find some of the group standing right along the highway. They usually get so close to the road that the state highway department has flashing signs letting drivers know to watch out for these characters.
There is one area in Nevada that I travel past where I have seen the annual gathering of the bighorn. Several times over the years I have counted 80 sheep at one time, it is an amazing sight. If you ever have the chance to see them, you will certainly be impressed by these wild animals.
