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Mating season – photo essay

By 
Mike Sturk
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: December 17, 2020

A bighorn ram curls its upper lip, enabling the transfer of air carrying pheromones to an organ in the roof of the mouth. This tells the ram if there are any ewes in the area that are in estrus and ready to mate. | Mike Sturk photo
A bighorn ram curls its upper lip, enabling the transfer of air carrying pheromones to an organ in the roof of the mouth. This tells the ram if there are any ewes in the area that are in estrus and ready to mate. | Mike Sturk photo

Photo essay | Freelance photographer Mike Sturk spent time last month with a flock of bighorn sheep in the Sheep Sanctuary near Turner Valley, Alta. The rut or mating season takes place during November and December. | Mike Sturk photos


Freelance photographer Mike Sturk spent time last month with a flock of bighorn sheep in the Sheep Sanctuary near Turner Valley, Alta.

The rut or mating season takes place during November and December. | Mike Sturk photos

A fence won’t stop a bighorn ram in its quest for a receptive ewe. | Mike Sturk photo
Bighorn rams become more aggressive toward one another during mating season. | Mike Sturk photo
Four large bighorn rams cross the Sheep River and up Junction Creek. | Mike Sturk photo
A bighorn ram makes short work of a cliff face as it looks for ewes. | Mike Sturk photo

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