Join these viewing events to see bighorn sheep in their natural habitat

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — If you’ve ever wanted to catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep in the wild, you may want to check out these two viewing events hosted by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

According to DWR, bighorn sheep are native to rugged mountainous areas of western North America. Utah is home to around 3,000 desert bighorn sheep and 1,500 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

“Bighorn sheep are a really unique and charismatic animal, and it’s always exciting to see them in the wild,” DWR Once-in-a-Lifetime Species Coordinator Rusty Robinson said. “We hope that people will take advantage of these viewing opportunities to see some big game animals that you don’t see every day.”

DWR said that Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are typically found in steep, rocky slopes. In the winter, they may migrate from higher elevations to lower valleys. Desert bighorn sheep are usually found in the southern areas of the state. There is also a nursery facility in Box Elder County to help grow the species population in the state.

The first viewing event will be on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Swasey’s Boat Ramp along the Green River. DWR said to keep in mind that going to this location requires traveling six miles on a relatively flat dirt road. The Bureau of Land Management website has detailed directions to get to the boat ramp.

DWR said at this event, bighorn sheep may be seen along the river and mountainside, specifically, mostly female sheep and their new lambs. Although the event is free, you are encouraged to register on Eventbrite ahead of time to receive updates about the event.

The second event will be on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mineral Mountains. DWR said to meet at Pahvant Travel Stop, west of exit 135 (Cove Fort), at 10 a.m. and join the caravan to go 12 miles west to the viewing location.

DWR said at this event, there will be the potential of seeing up to 20 bighorn sheep. Again, participants are encouraged to pre-register.

Biologists will be at both events to answer questions and provide information about bighorn sheep. There will also be spotting scopes available for use, but participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars or spotting scopes if they have them.