This morning it's cold and raining with high-altitude fog thicker than peanut butter; most of the Wind River Canyon remains unseen.  It's the first day of a change in the canyon's weather from our long-dry summer.  Of course, this comes after our insane springtime, and the deluge-mudslides that forever changed the geology in this magnificent Wyoming canyon.   

     But, last Saturday it still seemed as if it were summertime.  I was indoors writing my weekly Wind River Canyon Blog; was at it for several hours and needed a lunch break.  When you live in the mountains, binoculars tend to be available at every window, and I'm always on the lookout for anything interesting flying, walking, climbing or hopping around the canyon.  No one had seen Bighorn Sheep around here in quite some time, and I'd been asked about them frequently by locals and tourists alike....when, there they were!

     Of all the places I'd wanted to photograph our majestic Bighorn Sheep, first on my list was the new islands created by the mudslides.  As serendipity and luck sometimes collide, there were Bighorn Sheep on the largest of the newly created islands in the Wind River....right across the street!  My wildlife photographer's adrenaline kicked in to "top gear" and I ran down the hallway to get my camera with the longest lens; a 300mm that just happened to have the 1.4 extender on it; more good luck.

     Slipping on my clodhoppers I dashed out the front door, trying not to do anything dumb as I ran down the steps and across the yard.  Heading for the deer-trail was the fastest possible path down to the river, but first I had to negotiate that steep hill; easy for deer, not for me with a long, heavy camera.  Since the camera is worth more than my health, I held it above the sagebrush, making my way down to the roadway that splits the canyon in two.  No traffic coming (more good luck) as this nut sprinted down to the Wind River.

     Sitting down in some green and propping up the lens with my hand, I had only one other watching the Bighorns with me; no one else noticed the wildlife.  She told me, "I thought they were deer at first."  She and I were both struck by luck's hand last Saturday, as we had a "family" of Bighorn Sheep inspecting the new island for the first time.  

     Never have we observed, what humans would call, a "family unit" when photographing Bighorn Sheep in the Wind River Canyon.  We see Ewes and their babies, or the big Rams marching up and down the canyon, but not what you'd consider a family.  But that's exactly what was exploring the new island....a family of Bighorns!  A Ewe, a Ram and two young looked around this new land in the river.  They were curious about the new island in the Wind River Canyon, too.

     All too soon the Bighorn Sheep started to move south along the rails, following paths I've Baby Bighorn Sheep - Wind River CanyonBaby Bighorn Sheep photographed in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming. watched them on before.  I wanted to do what I usually do, and spend the day photographing them, but this time I was in the middle of my blog, and couldn't just blow-off the afternoon; I've walked miles before with them.  All this week they've been seen on the ancient game-trails here in the canyon.

     Of the hundred plus frames I'd shot, this picture of the baby female Bighorn was my immediate favorite.  She's so cute, and her pose was perfect; she takes direction well, don't you think? 

     The other shot included in this week's blog is quite unusual.  Behavior never seen in Bighorn Sheep here in the Wind River Canyon before.  It seems to be a father and daughter picture, although I'd leave that judgement to genetics; I just don't believe my eyes.  See if you believe yours...................... Ram and Baby Bighorn Sheep - Wind River CanyonRam and Baby Bighorn Sheep photographed in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.      The way the big Ram is looking at the young Ewe is interesting----look at his eye contact with her, as she is watching me.  It's fascinating to see just how curious they are about things I also find interesting.  I will be observing the changes to the new island for decades to come, I hope, and it was wild to witness the Bighorn's interest in it as well.  

     Bighorn Sheep are the last of the wildlife to mate in the Wind River Canyon before the onset of winter.  They are strong, powerful animals that are a fantastic addition to the ecology of the Wind River Canyon.  It's a genuine privilege, to have spent as much time, hauling around heavy cameras and following these friendly beasts for miles.  It gives a fella lots of time to think of the importance of saving what's left of our wilderness.

Blog written by Michael John Balog - Hogbats Photography - Wind River Canyon - Wyoming