Up Close and Personal with Rocky Mountain Elk

The Rocky Mountain Elk can be found in the Rocky Mountains. The winter ranges are most common in open forests and floodplain marshes in the lower elevations. They were re-introduced in 1913 after near extinction which was attributed mainly to human encroachment and destruction of their natural habitats and migratory corridors. The Rocky Mountain Elk has caused harm to several indigenous butterfly and plant species, especially the aspen groves that the elk herd of perhaps 3,000 animals decimates in its search for food. The elk population, while taxing the common food resources, also adversely affects native species that share the same food supply such as the indigenous beavers.

These photographs were taken on Tuesday in the town-site of Banff, Alberta. This Rocky Mountain town is often populated with wildlife that appear to be very comfortable with human company.

He has an eye on me

I think he has it figured out that I am OK

No longer interested in me

Big Horn Sheep in the Rocky Mountains

Bighorn sheep are named for the large, curved horns borne by the rams (males). Ewes (females) also have horns, but they are shorter with less curvature.They range in color from light brown to grayish or dark, chocolate brown, with a white rump and lining on the back of all four legs. The Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada Bighorn occupy the cooler mountainous regions of Canada and the United States. In contrast, the desert bighorn sheep subspecies are indigenous to the hot desert ecosystems of the Southwestern United States. Bighorn sheep generally inhabit alpine meadows, grassy mountain slopes and foothill country near rugged, rocky cliffs and bluffs.

Bighorn sheep were among the most-admired animals of the Apsaalooka, or Crow, people, and what is today called the Bighorn Mountain Range was central to the Apsaalooka tribal lands. In the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area book, storyteller Old Coyote describes a legend related to the bighorn sheep. A man possessed by evil spirits attempts to kill his heir by pushing the young man over a cliff, but the victim is saved by getting caught in trees. Rescued by bighorn sheep, the man takes the name of their leader, Big Metal. The other sheep grant him power, wisdom, sharp eyes, sure footedness, keen ears, great strength, and a strong heart. Big Metal returns to his people with the message that the Apsaalooka people will survive only so long as the river winding out of the mountains is known as the Bighorn River.

These photographs were taken in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on February 10, 2013 while snowshoeing in the area (Burstall Pass, Hogarth Lakes, Rawson Lake.

Rocky Mountain Sheep

This weekend a friend and I donned our snow-shoes at Burstall Pass, Hogart Lakes and Rawson...all of which are located in Kananaskis Country in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. On the way up we were lucky enough to see a group of Rocky Mountain Sheep. I was able to capture many photographs.

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