12th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Big Horn Sheep from SE Colorado

In a tiny ignored canyon in SE Colorado, on a good day you might find up to 25 to 35 elegant Big Horn Sheep, Colorado's state mammal. Seeing very few humans due to the remote location, they are relatively calm around humans. This sheep was on a canyon wall when I first saw him. The herd was across the road. The herd acted as if they were going to join him on the canyon slopes and at the last minute changed their mind. Consequently, he slowly reversed his climb, crossed the road and did this magical leap over a farmer's barbed wire fence in order to join his family.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2014
Date Uploaded: 11.2014
Photo Location: Colorado, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D3200
Copyright: © Jill Smith