Rough estimates of desert bighorn sheep in North America in pristine times is unknown, but pre-Columbian numbers of all subspecies of bighorn sheep in North America has been estimated to be 1.5 - 2.0 million. By 1960, however, the overall bighorn population in the United States, including desert bighorns, had dwindled to 15,000 - 18,200.
By 1990, according to estimates, there were 6,000 Arizona bighorn sheep, with their numbers tending upward. Given these low numbers, and how high up on the rocks and cliffs their hangouts are, we didn't think we had much of a chance to see them. But, we did! Right in the town of Clifton, Arizona.
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"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
- Immanuuel Kant
Posted with Blogsy
Oh good heavens!! What heaven! I'm so thrilled just to see the photos you took. You must have been beyond the beyond to see them in their own place, close enough to photograph. Probably going to be one of the High Points of this adventure, I'd think.
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