Bighorn on the Trail (Shallow Thoughts)

Bighorn on the Trail

On a mountain bike ride on the White Rock Canyon Rim trail yesterday, we stopped at one of the overlooks to admire the view, and turned to see three bighorn sheep crossing the trail behind us.

I knew they were in the neighborhood, but I'd never seen them.

Our local herd sources from a group of thirty-five adults and ten lambs caught in the mountains above Taos in 2014 and transported by helicopter and truck to Cochiti lands south of Los Alamos.

They have since dispersed through the Jemez and down to White Rock, where I'm told that people who live on the rim in La Senda and Pajarito Acres see them regularly.

I, alas, am not on the rim, and this is the first time I've actually seen any of the sheep. They seemed pretty calm, and amazingly, didn't run when I reached for a camera.

They're females or youngsters, judging by the small horns.

I haven't seen any estimates of how many sheep now live in the area, though I've heard anecdotal accounts of people seeing lambs, so apparently they are breeding.

How exciting to finally see some local bighorns! I hope they become a fixture in White Rock. They'd certainly be welcome to come graze in my yard.