Desert Bighorn Sheep in Zion

Figure 1. Desert Bighorn Sheep, Zion National Park, UT.

Speaking of bighorn sheep, Zion National Park is not the first thought by most people. Places such as Yellowstone, Glacier or Canadian Rockies are probably where people think of. As a matter of fact, Zion is a very good place to sight desert bighorn sheep. They look similar to Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, though they are usually more slim for better adaptation to desert environment.

Zion-Mount Carmel Highway is the place to see bighorn sheep in Zion. To be exact, you should check the road between Zion Tunnel and Checkerboard Mesa. This section of the road is scenic and short. This also makes it very efficient to search for bighorn sheep. Although experience shows these sheep are easier to sight in winter, I have sighted them many times in summer, too.

One thing good about taking photo of these majestic animals is their blending in with the Navajo sandstone. This makes it distinguished from photos of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. There are not many places to see bighorn sheep with red rock as background or foreground. In addition, the wave pattern of the slickrock makes it almost certain that this photo was taken in Zion. While people tend to take close-up for wildlife, wildlife photos with special background is also attractive.

There is a plan to transplant these sheep to other places from Zion in 2014 because they are too abundant. Maybe it is the best time to see them now. If you have any plan visiting Zion in 2014, spending some time looking for these sheep would be a good idea.