Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep get their name from the large horns that males grow which can weigh up to 30 pounds. Inhabiting the alpine meadows and grassy mountain slopes of the Rocky Mountains of Canada and the United States, they are incredible climbers and thrive in tricky terrain that helps shield them from less surefooted predators.
Glacier National Park is home to approximately 500 bighorn sheep who can be found roaming highly technical sections of Glacier’s over 700 miles of trails. While bighorn sheep might not represent an obvious threat like Glacier National Park’s grizzly bear population, an adult ram can weigh up to 300 pounds and reach speeds of 30mph so they are more than capable to knocking visitors over. If a ram was to knock over a hiker on flat alpine meadow the consequences may not be severe, but losing your footing on a narrow cliffside trail could be fatal.
The following video was taken on the Highline Trail inside Glacier National Park and shows a group of hikers who wisely scrambled to vacate a narrow strip of trail flanked by a steep drop off to make room for a pair of charging bighorn sheep.
It is not difficult to imagine an alternate scenario where these hikers stood their ground rather than providing a wide berth and were tossed off the cliffside by the bighorn sheep. Falling is the second leading cause of death in Glacier National Park and its important to keep that in mind when encounter wildlife in the high alpine.
Glacier National Park warns visitors all of its wildlife can be dangerous and should always be given proper space. For most species, like moose, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and deer, visitors must maintain at least 25 yards of distance. For wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, and mountain lions, a distance of at least 100 yards should be observed.
“The park provides a wonderful opportunity to view animals in their natural habitat. Along with this opportunity comes a special obligation for park visitors. Always enjoy wildlife from the safety of your car or from a safe distance. Do not approach wildlife to take photographs. Visitors who have gotten too close to animals while trying to get a picture have been severely injured in the past. Use a telephoto lens instead. This will not only ensure your own safety, but also the safety of the wildlife. Feeding or harassing wildlife is strictly prohibited and subject to a fine. All wildlife can present a real and painful threat, especially females with young and males during mating season.” -Glacier National Park
