Spotting Chaffee County's bighorn sheep on the high cliffs

Bighorn sheep are one of the animals you can actually expect to see in Chaffee County. They spend their lives on cliffs and steep rocky slopes across central Colorado, and around here you may spot them on the canyon walls, including up Chalk Creek Canyon, and on rocky ground near the highways. A band of rams or ewes picking across a cliff face is a real high-country sight, and it is one of the best wildlife moments the area offers.

Two easy habits keep those sightings good for everyone. First, watch from a comfortable distance. If the sheep lift their heads, point their ears at you, or look jumpy when you move, that is your cue to sit still or back away slowly. Giving them room, especially around lambs, lets them stay relaxed on the safe ground they depend on, and you will usually get a longer look.

Second, let them find their own food. In Colorado it is illegal to intentionally feed bighorn sheep and other big game, and the rule is really about caring for the animals. The wrong food can give them a serious stomach condition called acidosis, and sheep that learn to gather near roads for handouts are more likely to be hit by cars or to spread disease. Skipping the snacks is the kindest thing you can do for them.

For where bighorn live and how to watch wildlife responsibly, see Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s bighorn sheep and feeding-wildlife pages.