Natural History Wanderings

Image via Wikipedia

The NY Times ran a story about the reintroduction of Bighorn sheep in Pike National Forest.  The reintroduction though successful so far hasn’t exactly gone according to plan.  In 1946 a truck carrying 14 Bighorn sheep with the intent of releasing them near Pikes Peak broke down and the sheep were accidentally released near Colorado Springs.  They drifted further north and started a herd.  In June 2002 Colorado had the large Hayman wildfire, which was started by a forest service employee burning a letter from her estranged husband.  The fire opened up a forested area creating a desirable habitat for the sheep.  Recently more sheep have been released.  To read more go to  Bighorn Sheep Return to Pike National Forest in Colorado – NYTimes.com.

To see recent photos of Bighorn Sheep in Anza Borrego go Ron Niebrugge’s blog Anza Borrego Desert Bighorn and Peninsular Bighorn Sheep