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Mike from Mt. Hardware was fortunate enough to get a close look at 4 big horn sheep a couple of weeks ago. While hiking on top of a local mountain peak (near a Boy Scout camp) he was able to capture a series of photos. He stood there motionless for 20 minutes the big horn continued to move closer to him as the prevailing wind was just right to go unnoticed. The first photo is when he was first noticed by the lead animal.
Remember if your lucky enough to spot some of these magnificent creatures, you're the visitor to their home.
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/nature/LgBigHorn3b.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/nature/LgBigHorn4b.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/nature/mdBigHorn2.JPG)
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Way cool pictures! Lucky Mike!
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That is soooo awesome - that must have been amazing!!! I'm so jealous....
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WOW! That is just way too kewl. I just hope the heard fairs better this year and the population increases. I think the fires may have been just what they needed to created more grazing opportunities for them. Only time will tell.
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What Fish & Game experts are trying to determine is why Mountain Lions are killing the Big Horn Sheep instead of their normal prey of deer.
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That will be an interesting study to hear the results from. I hope it's not saying that our deer population is hurting too. Unless the sheep seem to be just tastier than the deer.
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Maybe some Mt. Lions just prefer Mutton to Venison.
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Maybe some Mt. Lions just prefer Mutton to Venison.
I heard that the mountain lions just recently discoved that the horns of the big horn sheep can be used in a love potion, so they are skipping the dear cause they now get food and some lov'n in one package.
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Clint, Gus & Admin went on a hike looking for Big Horn Sheep in a local hiking area this morning. (After RobertW's sightings over the weekend)
While looking for Big Horn Sheep tell tale signs are indicated by scat and fresh tracks as seen in the 2 photos:
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/nature/bighornscat5_26_03a.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/nature/bighornTracks5_26_03a.JPG)
Next comes the exciting part.... Spotting them near the top of a ridge.
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/nature/bighorn5_26_03d.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/nature/bighorn5_26_03c.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/nature/bighorn5_26_03f.JPG)
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What an exciting and rewarding hike it was this morning. We actually accomplished what we set forth to see.......the ever elusive Big Horn Sheep.
Thanks Wrightwood, for letting Mr. Witch and I tag along.
RobertW, the picture of the sheep at the top of the ridge is a great shot with the blue sky behind them. Don't let Wrightwood intimidate you so much. ;)
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RobertW,
that last shot is great.
Thanks for your assistance as we've wanted local Big Horn Sheep pictures for our forum visitors, for a long time.
Now, to get a bigger lens for the camera ;)
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I sincerely hope you all know just how lucky you were to see these magnificent animals in their own environment.
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WONDERFUL pictures!! ;D
In a past life, I learned that the males stay in herds with other males most of the time, and the females hang with other females & young sheep. I saw them mate a few times. They do it on the run, running accross their typical habitat! :o It's amazing they ever reproduce.
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Nolena, Thanks. We were wondering about this heard being all males. Do the Females hang out nearby for protection or do they have their own range away from the males?
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Got a chart for ewes, or is it harder to determine their age?
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No. It's whether or no they use nail polish on their hooves. ;)
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Depends on if there are wearing high heeled hooves.
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About 2:30am, June 1, I was coming home via Lone Pine Rd. I saw in the distance, two pairs of eyes reflecting my headlights. I was thinking those critters were coyotes but they turned out to be deers. I had to really slow down so I wont hit them with my vehicle. (They are worst than squirrels dodging cars.) They didnt look fully grown yet. My wife, Ellie Mae II, is mad at me for not herding them home.
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Here's another photo from Wed evening about 6:30pm.
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bighorn/gallery2/bighorn9_10_03i.JPG)
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And a few more ;D
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bighorn/gallery2/bighorn9_10_03d.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bighorn/gallery2/bighorn9_10_03e.JPG)
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Man, he looks like he's posing just for you on that last one! Great shots!
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I knewthey used nail polish!
Very nice pictures! Those look like some healthy sheep.
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Yup! The pictures are worth joining the forum for!
Here is a notice about a meeting about bighorn sheep.
It is sponsored by the San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy.
They usually have a panel of local experts discussing each topic.
Monthly Environmental Roundtable
DATE: Monday, October 13, 7-9:00pm
LOCATION: Baldwin Park Performing Arts Center, Baldwin Park
TOPIC: San Gabriel Mountains Bighorn Sheep: A Collision in Habitat Planning?
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Bedding down for the night.
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bighorn/gallery2/bighorn9_10_03h.JPG)
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As always, incredible images!
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Very nice! :)
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And another
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/bighorn/gallery2/bighorn9_10_03a.JPG)
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To be lucky enough to live in such a place to have this wildlife, I say we just keep it a secret! To admire these animals from a far and be able to share it with others is ideal, just don't go telling those drunk hunters!!
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Kristaldawn,
I understand where your'e coming from, but keeping our Bighorn population quiet causes bigger problems than educating the public about these magnificent animals. The Nelson Bighorn that occupy the San Gabriels are in emminent danger of extiction. The causes are complicated but can be traced back to a root cause of improper forest management. Specifically, intervention by man in the normal fire cycle of our wild lands.
Now there are people advocating the use of domestic goats around Wrightwood for fuel reduction. While this technique is viable for many areas. It is not so for Wrightwood. If these people would take the time to become educated about Bighorns they might think differently.
So while you are absolutely correct about keeping specific locations quiet, people who live in the forests need to be educated about their responsibility as stewards of those public lands and wildlife that they chose to live with as neighbors.
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(http://www.incidentcontrol.com/nature/ram7_25_04_3.JPG)
(http://www.incidentcontrol.com/nature/ram7_25_04_1.JPG)
(http://www.incidentcontrol.com/nature/ram7_25_04_4.JPG)
(http://www.incidentcontrol.com/nature/ram7_25_04_6.JPG)
(http://www.incidentcontrol.com/nature/ram7_25_04_9.JPG)
(http://www.incidentcontrol.com/nature/ram7_25_04_10.JPG)
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OH MY GOD John, those pictures are the very best yet!
Thanks again!
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They look so glossy and well-fed.
It is surprising how well they are adapted to this environment.
The pics are so clear it feels like you could reach out and pat them.
Gr8 work, John!
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September 2004 - Notice the winter coat
(http://www.incidentcontrol.com/misc/9_19_04ramb.JPG)
(http://www.incidentcontrol.com/misc/9_19_04ramc.JPG)
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Wow! 14!! I think you win the award for seeing the most! :2thumbsup:
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Beautiful animals and photos.
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Toolman and I had a great sighting of a Bighorn yesterday. While out on Patrol with Aaron, USFS REC-34, we came upon a very healthy looking Class III Ram standing in the middle of Angeles Crest (Hwy 2).
When looking up facts about Bighorns you will find: "They can move over level ground at 30 miles per hour and scramble up mountain slopes at 15 m.p.h." Well, I can tell you this is true as we saw it for oursleves.
As we came around the turn and came upon this fellow, we were doing about 25 MPH, Up ahead the Bighorn, standing in the middle of the road, began to run right down the middle of the Hwy in front of us and began to pull away. We stayed a couple of hundred feet behind it and clocked it at 30 MPH. It just kept following the road and we couldn't believe he wouldn't slow down, change direction and exit the road in an attempt to escape. That Ram ran right down the middle of Hwy 2, taking the curves, for a quarter mile. We began slowing down, giving it more space between us as we didn't want to stress the animal. We couldn't believe he wouldn't leave the road. The Ram finally slowed up and exited the road, running down the side of the ravine. Boy could that fellow move!
Not only do they run at 30 MPH, they can sustain that speed for a quarter mile. Upon coming back through that area we encountered either the same Ram or another one standing again in the middle of the road. This time the Ram immediately exited the Hwy for the protection of the Ravine. We stopped and jumped out to see if we could see it running down the steep and rocky slope. It was gone! We couldn't see it but could see the dust and heard it running across the rocks several hundred feet below us. Truly powerful, agile and magnificent animals!
While the three of us have been out on patrol over the past few weeks, we've seen a mother Bear and her cub, a bobcat and Bighorns all running across Hwy 2 in front of us. Next Patrol we're hoping for a Mountain Lion sighting to add to the list. ;D
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Wow RobertW I'll bet that was an adrenaline rush & a half!!! It is nice to know you guys are out there making sure the forest is a safe place for families & the like to spend quality time in ;) Thanks for ALL you guys do!!!!
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RobertW, now you know why photojournalist always have their cameras with them ;D
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RobertW, now you know why photojournalist always have their cameras with them ;D
I will tell you that while we were following and observing this event we were asking ourselves, "Does anyone have a camera?". Arghhh!
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Likewise many times myself. When I saw a deer with several points. a full fledged stag, while driving down LPC to work one night, I stopped and kicked myself for not having a camera. It was a beautiful beast. Now all I have are the memories. Oh well. :-\
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Very cool web film that deals with bighorn sheep babies in Montana:
http://conservationmedia.com/2011/01/07/climate-ewe/
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As opposed to the rams (males) pictured above, the picture below is of a female (ewe) bighorn sheep.
Ewes do not have the large horns that rams have.
Ewes spend most of their time in herds of females (and new lambs), while rams spend most of their time in herds of males.
Ewes and rams usually come together only during mating season.
Ewes and lambs generally inhabit more precipitous areas than rams.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3213394649_6f6008c890.jpg?v=0)
http://www.blm.gov/ca/pdfs/cdd_pdfs/Bighorn1.PDF
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Finally saw one. Have been driving ACH for years and this is the first time I've seen one here (saw a herd on San Jacinto, and one in Azusa canyon when I was a kid). Luckily my GF was with me - I was glad she was finally able to see one in the wild. It was about midnight last night at the edge of a turnout. It froze in our headlights and we got a pretty good look at it - full grown male. While we were looking, it dawned on me that lots of rocks were falling onto the road right where we were...some were softball sized. There must have been more up above the road.
Once we realized where we were, we recognized the place. A couple months before we parked beside the road and got out to admire the view. We noticed rocks falling from a steep rocky outcrop across the gully. I *knew* they were up there. We stood there for 15 minutes trying to spot them, but nothing. It was the same place.
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How cool is that, Joe? I'd love to spot one of the bighorns.
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Some pics from today at "Snow beach"
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/71c480d5.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/498ace89.jpg)
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/e46e5850.jpg)
felt a little weird taking this shot... :-\
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/snowave/ec7443f9.jpg)
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Very nice to see they still like the snow beach area
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Where's Snow Beach?? And how do get there, hiking I assume ?
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Where's Snow Beach?? And how do get there, hiking I assume ?
If you continue on Highway 2 about 2-1/2 miles from Vincent Gap, going west, you will come to it. There is a big turnout on the right hand side of the road, and "Snow Beach" is to the left. It got its nickname due to snow staying up in there for a long time, into the summer during heavy snow years. People actually snowboard down the side of the mountain there.
One time several years ago, a friend and I were heading to Dawson Saddle to hike up the trail there (Dawson Saddle is another 2-1/2 miles from "Snow Beach"). Just as we were arriving at the Snow Beach area, 4 bighorns came up the side on the right (it's VERY steep there), across the road right in front of us, and on up the hill to the left. We pulled over and watched in amazement, until we could no longer see them. Of course neither of us had a camera with us. They are truly magnificent animals.
Those are great pictures, snowave!
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HA! That was the place I was talking about earlier. And here I thought I was being slick by keeping hush hush about where it was ::)