Bighorn sheep ewe portrait with runny nose in the winter in Wyoming.

Bighorn Sheep Lamb Portrait

Wyoming, USA

This bighorn lamb is likely 6 months old, born in the spring when food is abundant. It pauses and poses nicely with what I perceive as curiosity in its gaze. The runny nose may seem benign, reminding one of human children in the winter. But this could also be an ominous sign.

Bighorn sheep are prone to bacterial pneumonia. Unknown in North America until Europeans arrived with domesticated sheep, bighorn sheep have little resistance these pneumonias. It usually starts in a young lamb such as this, but quickly spreads to others in the population. Breathing becomes difficult as their lungs fill with fluid and eventually the sheep begin to die.

Pnuemonia is thought to be the major factor in the decline of the bighorn sheep population, now 10% of its traditional size.



Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.

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