With more mountain peaks over 14,000 feet high, it is fitting that #Colorado chose this creature as their official state animal. Bighorn Sheep love the rarified air at high altitude and their rugged lifestyle seems appropriate for the Centennial State.

I was lucky enough to come across two Bighorn rams recently as they lounged around near the top of Trail Ridge Road (12,183 feet) in Rocky Mountain National Park. With no trees in the way thanks to their being way above timberline, I was able to capture many pics of them.

In the coming weeks they will undoubtedly move to lower altitudes and closer to the females. As they do, the males won’t likely be so tolerant of each other as they begin competing for the affection of the fairer sex. ?

This pretty lady and a few of her gal pals were hanging out in Estes Park, Colorado this past weekend. The four of them were clearly quite accustomed to having their picture taken as our presence didn’t bother them one bit as they continued to lounge and graze.

Right now they aren’t particularly photogenic as they shed their winter coats, notice the raggedy appearance of the ewe behind this one. Unfortunately I didn’t spot any rams on this day.

The Bighorn Sheep is the official animal of the state of #Colorado and found in many places in the state’s high country. Diseases from European livestock and overhunting had caused the animal’s population to drop precipitously by the early 1900s. Thankfully conservation efforts have been successful in helping the sheep rebound since then.

You can read more about these cool animals here.

Taken in Waterton Canyon, Colorado back in October. Not old enough to do battle with the big boys, this pair of young rams was testing their mettle against each other in preparation for the day when they would be fighting for females’ affection.

This big guy didn’t mind having his picture taken back in October in Waterton Canyon, Colorado. The Bighorn Sheep in the area are a big attraction for photographers and recreationalists for good reason. This is one location I may be re-visiting during the long holiday weekend. I just have to convince my photo buddy – my son – that it is worth the 12 mile bike ride. 😉

This ram wore the scars of battles past proudly as he strutted with his peers in Waterton Canyon, Colorado a couple weeks ago. The bighorn rut is in full swing right now as they fight for the right to mate with the nearby herd of ewes.

Two bighorn sheep rams stand side by side in Waterton Canyon, Colorado.

The bighorn rut is starting to gear up and as it does, the rams will begin battling for dominance and the right to mate. Throwing themselves at each other at speeds up to 20mph, the rams will bow their heads and crash their massive horns into each other. This will repeat, sometimes for hours, until one of them submits and walks off.

I was able to get a picture of this unique landscape feature this past weekend in the Colorado Front Range foothills.   😉

You can view the complete photo gallery from a day in Waterton Canyon below the image.

A good looking bighorn ram.

2014-10-18 1A good looking bighorn ram.1-02-26 - 0036

Some of the fall foliage in Waterton Canyon

Bighorn ram collision sequence - 1 of 4

Bighorn ram collision sequence - 2 of 4

Bighorn ram collision sequence - 3 of 4

Bighorn ram collision sequence - 4 of 4

Bighorn rams go head to head

A bighorn ram lowers its head

Young bighorn tries to engage a competitor

Young bighorn rams face off

Bighorn rams push each other

Bighorn rams push each other

Bighorn sheep lamb

A young bighorn ram poses

A young bighorn ram poses

A young ram makes a face

A bighorn lamb plays king of the mountain

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

A bighorn sheep has a snack

10 Butts Mountain. 😉

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

Bighorn sheep head on

A bighorn sheep ram poses

Time to battle - Sequence - 1 of 2

Time to battle - Sequence - 2 of 2

Bighorn scrum

Jockeying for position

Two handsome bighorn sheep

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

An impressive bighorn.

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

A bighorn ram comes down the mountain.

One bighorn ram gives another a nudge.

Sticking is tongue out to intimidate his opponent.

Two rams face off.

Looking contemplative.

Double trouble rams.

Grazing at the side of the road.

A bighorn sheep lounges in the morning sun.

Bighorn Sheep are rugged animals capable of surviving in the sometimes harsh climate of the Rocky Mountains.  It is perhaps fitting that Colorado chose this creature to be the state’s official animal as it is a great symbol of the American West and in particular, the high country which dominates the western part of the Centennial State.

This image was taken this past Saturday as a Bighorn Ram seemed to stare right into my camera. You can view the complete gallery of images from the day below the main image.

A good looking bighorn ram.

2014-10-18 1A good looking bighorn ram.1-02-26 - 0036

Some of the fall foliage in Waterton Canyon

Bighorn ram collision sequence - 1 of 4

Bighorn ram collision sequence - 2 of 4

Bighorn ram collision sequence - 3 of 4

Bighorn ram collision sequence - 4 of 4

Bighorn rams go head to head

A bighorn ram lowers its head

Young bighorn tries to engage a competitor

Young bighorn rams face off

Bighorn rams push each other

Bighorn rams push each other

Bighorn sheep lamb

A young bighorn ram poses

A young bighorn ram poses

A young ram makes a face

A bighorn lamb plays king of the mountain

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

A bighorn sheep has a snack

10 Butts Mountain. 😉

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

Bighorn sheep head on

A bighorn sheep ram poses

Time to battle - Sequence - 1 of 2

Time to battle - Sequence - 2 of 2

Bighorn scrum

Jockeying for position

Two handsome bighorn sheep

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

An impressive bighorn.

Bighorn sheep and fall foliage.

A bighorn ram comes down the mountain.

One bighorn ram gives another a nudge.

Sticking is tongue out to intimidate his opponent.

Two rams face off.

Looking contemplative.

Double trouble rams.

Grazing at the side of the road.

A bighorn sheep lounges in the morning sun.

Three rams put their heads together in a bit of a shoving contest this morning. There were more significant battles accompanied by the amazingly loud sound of their massive horns smashing into each there.

Taken in Waterton Canyon, southwest of Denver, the bighorn sheep are very popular but do require some work to see as no vehicles are allowed. The trail / dirt road is relatively easy but it was 12+ mile round trip on my bike.