sheep, including his dedication to finding a cure for Pastuerella pneumonia (a nearly always fatal respiratory disease in sheep).
Capturing the Wilderness in Print and on CameraDuncan authored numerous books, some of which chronicled the condition of the state's bighorn sheep herds, their natural history and field care of big game. Altogether, Duncan authored 11 books on outdoor subjects.
Photography and videography were also passions of Dunc's, and he traveled the world to capture images of wild animals. In 2001, the International Wildlife Film Festival honored him in Missoula, MT for his numerous wildlife film contributions.
Dunc passed away with a video camera in his hands in the fall of 2002 doing what he loved - filming wildlife for eternity.
Legends of the High Country (panel 3)
Bighorn sheep, named for the large curved horns on males (rams), are legendary for their ability to climb steep and rocky terrain, like the landscape that surrounds us here in the southern Bitterroot Valley. A large male may weigh over 300 pounds and stand over 42 inches tall at the shoulder. A ewe (female sheep) will have smaller, shorter horns that curve only slightly. Ewes typically weigh 100-150 pounds.
Although today's bighorn population is much lower than it was historically, the return of the bighorn to many parts of its native range across the West is a wildlife restoration success.
Power in the Horns & HoovesFighting for dominance, males charge each other at speeds of more than 20 miles per hour, their horns crashing with a crack that can be heard more than a mile away. The animal's thick, bony skull usually prevents serious injury. Sometimes, during the late fall mating season (referred to as the rut), you might catch one of these battles near the highway in this part of the valley - keep your eyes and ears peeled as you continue your travels.
To master high country travel, bighorns have balance-aiding split hooves and rough hoof bottoms for natural grip. These attributes, along with keen vision, help them move easily on rocky, rugged mountain terrain.
Every winter leaves its mark on the horns of bighorn rams. Horns stop growing when nutrition is poor in winter; forming annual rings - like tree rings! You can age a ram by counting, the prominent rings.
Seasonal Shifts for SurvivalJust like many wild animals, bighorn sheep shift their living and eating patterns based on the season. In the summer, bighorns graze on grasses or sedges on 5,000-8,500 feet alpine meadows or hillsides. In the winter, bighorns descend to lower elevation mountain slopes where snow is not nearly as deep. There they feed on grasses and woody plants such as willow, sage and rabbit brush. Reintroduced populations sometimes do not adopt the migratory habits of the original native herds and may be seen near the native winter range year-round.
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