Rocky Mtn Sheep on trail

Rocky Mtn Sheep on trail

As I headed up Battle Creek trail, just above the waterfall, I saw motion ahead of me. I was awed to see it was a rocky mountain sheep. I grabbed my camera and snapped off this shot just before it bolted across the stream and up a wooded slope. It had a radio collar on and a red tag in its ear so the game folks must have some tracking going on. Wasatchnutt007, a longtime resident of the area and one who has hiked this trail numerous times said he has never seen one or even had heard that there were any in the area. 7-1-08
Dean
on Jul 2, 2008 6:58 pm
Image ID: 417520

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lcarreau

lcarreau - Jul 3, 2008 10:45 am - Voted 10/10

Dean -

It looks more like a sheep than a goat.
Highly unusual. My parents said they spotted
a family of quail in their yard in Tooele.
Also highly unusual! Please, take a LOOK.

Dean

Dean - Jul 3, 2008 3:54 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Dean -

Oops, thanks for the correction, I meant to say "sheep" rather than goat so that is now corrected. There are mountain goats on Timp but I wasn't aware of any sheep. What a neat
experience to see this fine animal on such a
heavily traveled trail. BTW, you did a nice job with those rocks. Great caption.

Dennis Poulin

Dennis Poulin - Jul 3, 2008 4:59 pm - Voted 10/10

Baaaawwwbbb???

I can see he was looking for some action. He could see you didn't look anything like Bob, so he took off.

Dean

Dean - Jul 3, 2008 5:11 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Baaaawwwbbb???

It was so unexpected to meet this creature. I'm curious about the radio collar. I'm wondering if some of these animals were planted in the area with the hopes that they might adapt well.
I've seen elk on Mahogany mountain and there are moose in the area as well with mountain goats on Mt. Timpanogos. There are even bears and cougars in the region so there already seems to be a pretty good population of wild creatures close to a populated area.
Bob? Yes, I suppose that beard makes for a different attraction.

mountaingazelle

mountaingazelle - Jul 26, 2008 4:41 pm - Voted 10/10

Nice photo, Dean

I’ve seen several bighorn sheep in Rock Canyon above Provo. They really like the area around Red Slab on the south side of the canyon. They brought about 100 bighorn sheep from Canada and relocated them to American Fork Canyon, Rock Canyon, Battle Creek, and Grove Creek. Mountain goats are more common in the Wasatch Mountains but bighorn sheep can be seen too.

Dean

Dean - Jul 26, 2008 7:21 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Nice photo, Dean

Great information Melinda. That would account for the radio collar and red ear tag, they are indeed keeping track of where the "planted" sheep are. I will keep my eyes open for possible future sightings as I hike these trails.

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