A little snow in #ColoradoSprings made our bighorn sheep spectacular today. @COParksWildlife is baiting the Rampart herd daily as it prepares to capture about 20 to relocate in Beaver Creek Canyon south of Victor to establish a new herd. Here are some photos and videos. (1 of 11)
The predecessor agency to @COParksWildlife was the first in the U.S. to capture and relocate bighorn sheep in 1944 after they were hunted to near extinction in the 1800s-1900s. Today, we have about 7,000 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Colorado. (2/11)
After a snowfall, the Rampart bighorn sheep herd in #ColoradoSprings was feeling feisty. Look closely as one ram launches from a tall rock with a ewe close behind. (3/11)
There was plenty of sparring and jostling after the bighorn ate apple pulp and hay at the bait site. In a few weeks, @COParksWildlife biologists will erect a net, drop it on a select group of ewes and a helicopter will ferry them off to Beaver Creek canyon near Victor. (4/11)
It was overcast and foggy early today but the bighorn sheep came running straight down an old quarry to get the bait set out by @COParksWildlife staff. (5/11)
The crack of rams crashing their heads together is unmistakable. (6/11)
This ewe led several rams up and down the rock cliffs of an old quarry where the Rampart herd lives north of Garden of the Gods in #ColoradoSprings. (7/11)
There was plenty of jostling and sparring at the bait site. (8/11)
When the sun came out, the Rampart herd looked majestic against the red rocks of the old quarry. (9/11)
Best to stay on your toes when an old ram comes to investigate a stranger. (10/11)
Adios! (11/11)
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
BREAKING NEWS: A bear believed to have attacked woman in Manitou Springs has been caught and humanely euthanized by @COParksWildlife officers working with federal agents. Its cubs also were caught and taken to a rehab facility. A necrospy will be done on the remains. (1 of 3)
A team of @COParksWildlife officers & @USDA wildlife experts spent Friday night searching. The bears were caught early Sat near the attack site. Tom and Cec Sanders at Wet Mountain Wildlife Rehab in Wetmore will raise the cubs until their release into the wild in winter. (2 of 3)
“We believe this is the sow that aggressively attacked one woman then chased another on Thursday,” said @COParksWildlife's Cody Wigner. Neighbors say these bears often rummaged trash cans. “This is why we say ‘garbage kills bears’ and urge everyone to secure their trash.” (3/3)
See this bobcat? Notice its large teeth? Imagine the claws within its big paws. A #ColoradoSprings woman picked up this injured wild cat and put it in her car where her child was seated! NEVER PICK UP WILD ANIMALS. She was lucky. Please call @COParksWildlife and let us handle.
@COParksWildlife We removed the bobcat, which was mortally wounded. Luckily, it was too injured to react to being picked up and placed in a car. But no one should EVER try this. This could have been tragic.
@COParksWildlife This is the sight that greeted @COParksWildlife officer Sarah Watson when she responded to a call about an injured bobcat on Wednesday. An unrestrained wild bobcat in the back of an SUV under a blanket. A child's car seat was just feet away. NEVER PICK UP WILDLIFE!