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Where the Bighorns Are

Bighorn sheep, Yellowstone National Park. Kurt Repanshek photo
Kurt Repanshek
Sunday, January 25, 2009

Yellowstone National Park is well-known as the home of elk, bison, and grizzly bears, but visit in summer and you likely won't associate the park with bighorn sheep. That's because the sheep head for the cooler temperatures of the high country. But in winter they come down to the river valleys to escape the deepest snows and to forage.

One of the best spots in Yellowstone for viewing wildlife in winter is the Lamar Valley. There are two reasons for this. One is that the valley with the Lamar River flowing through it lures lots of wildlife -- bighorn sheep, bison, elk, coyotes, and wolves. The second is that the road through the valley between Mammoth Hot Springs and Cooke City, Montana, is plowed, providing easy access for your rig.

A nice photo and a nice tie-in with the rock outcrop in the background. For me, Yellowstone is so fascinating because you can find so much wildlife and varied geology in one park.

rob
---
Executive Director,
Crater Lake Institute
www.craterlakeinstitute.com
Robert Mutch Photography,
www.robmutch.com


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