Leaving The Park

Bighorn Sheep: Before a chlamydia (pinkeye) epidemic in 1982, almost 500 bighorn sheep lived on the northern range. The population has been slow to recover to about 300 at present. Males can weigh 300 pounds. While both males and females grow horns, it can take seven years for a male to grow a distinctive full curl. The bottoms of its feet are concave, enabling it to travel across escape terraine more readily than its predators.







We encountered this Elk (Bull) while leaving the Park late yesterday afternoon. I'm sure he crossed the road, as he made his way to about 50 feet from our car by the time we got up to him. A Park Ranger was directing traffic.
The most abundant large animal in the park, elk populations in summer can reach 15,000 animals across seven different herds. By mid-summer, elk are at high elevations seeking nutritous forage. Winter populations can be 70 percent less since most migrate outside the park.

Bulls can weigh 700 pounds and stand five feet at the shoulder, comparable to an average horse.



Geyser

You can hardly make out the man fly-fishing.

You can hardly make out the Eagle that I spotted in the tree.