Two hundred years ago, bighorn sheep were widespread throughout the North America. Some estimates placed their population at over 2 million. By around 1900, hunting, competition from ranching, and diseases had decreased the population to several thousand. A program of reintroductions, natural parks, and reduced hunting, together with a decrease in domesticated sheep near the end of WWII, allowed the bighorn sheep to make a comeback.
It was in Banff National Park we saw this chief bighorn making a cross of the highway.
Seeing the chief made it to the other side safe and sound, his harem and offsprings, running down the mountains, followed suit.
Please pay attention on how the herd was crossing the highway – mothers walking on the sides to form two sheep walls to shelter the young’s in the middle.
Before the herd could complete their crossing, cars from both directions converged around the beautiful sheep family. People forgone all safety concerns of parking in the middle of a highway and turned themselves into paparazzi by photographing the bighorn stars like crazy.
Sensing the commotion, the chief bighorn sheep dashed back to its harem, just so to keep a sharp eye on the humans.