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In the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area book, storyteller Old Coyote describes a legend related to the bighorn sheep. A man possessed by evil spirits attempts to kill his heir by pushing the young man over a cliff, but the victim is saved by getting caught in trees. Rescued by bighorn sheep, the man takes the name of their leader, Big Metal.
A statue of a bighorn sheep stands on Greg Francis Bighorn Sheep Habitat in recognition of the herd of 65 bighorns (in 2003) [16] and Greg Francis, hundreds of volunteers, and efforts by Castle Concrete to reintroduce Rocky Mountain juniper trees, native grasses, and small piñon to the hills.
The canyon is home to pronghorn, [2] bald eagles, [3] and the Colorado River hosts varieties of trout. [4] In 2009, a small herd of bighorn sheep were released in Gore Canyon by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This added to an existing herd to help boost the population after declines due to competition with domestic animals, hunting, and ...
Overhunting of bighorn sheep, and livestock diseases and parasites introduced from domestic sheep grazing largely wiped out the native population of bighorn sheep by the early 1900s. Today the only herd of bighorn sheep in the namesake range is a reintroduced herd near Devils Canyon in the northern part of the range.
Its nearest neighbor is Crazy Quilt Mesa, one-half mile immediately west, and separated by Checkerboard Mesa Canyon. This canyon holds pools of rainwater which provide a vital source of water for resident bighorn sheep. [4] This peak was originally named Checkerboard Mountain by the park's third superintendent, Preston P. Patraw. [5]
The Buffalo Peaks Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in San Isabel and Pike National Forests in central Colorado.The 43,410-acre (175.7 km 2) wilderness was named after two highly eroded volcanic mountains, East Buffalo Peak and West Buffalo Peak, in the Mosquito Range and was established in 1993.
[6] [7] Browns Canyon is the most popular destination for whitewater rafting in the country, and is also known for its fishing and hiking. [6] The monument will provide habitat protection for bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, elk, and golden eagles. [6]
Bighorn Canyon provides habitat for at least 231 species of birds. [30] Bighorn sheep, black bear, mule deer, mountain lions, pronghorn, coyotes, beavers, and marmots are among the species that live in the varied climates in the recreation area.