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The Alaska Dall Sheep is an animal of great interest and admiration. Its pure white coat is beautiful silhouetted against the sky, while it is standing majestically on some high cliff.
This particular ram was standing on the cliffs near the Seward Highway. And look at that curl on his horns! That's a good sized ram. You won't find them on low, level ground except rarely as they keep to the high mountains and steep cliffs. Since bears and wolves both hunt sheep, the sheep are safer when they are perched on a mountain ledge. Or they can escape more easily if they have a steep cliff nearby. And since they have only one lamb at a time, they could be wiped out easily if they didn't have a good way to protect themselves. Alaska's Majestic Dall Sheep
They generally frequent places where people don't go. However, with the development of our National Park Systems, and their protection from humans in those areas, they can be observed more often and in more locations. They tend to come down to lower elevations only when it is hard to find food, as in the winter. Mature Dall Sheep Foraging Near Highway Both the male and female of the species have horns and look similar until they are about 3 years of age. The male continues to grow horns, and at the age of 7 or 8 years, they curve into a full circle. Dall Ram with Almost Full Curl Though most wild sheep are considered old by the age of 12, Alaska Dall sheep are often found by trophy hunters that are much older than that. If you do want to hunt sheep, there are several Alaska vacation guide companies that have the know-how, equipment and can take you to Alaska's remote wilderness areas in the eastern or northern part of Alaska. This Dall Ram is a Husky Looking Fellow! Dall sheep could be quite valuable animals but since they are harder to reach and harder to take home once you've killed one, they are not often hunted for food, except by natives who live off the land. Be sure to bring your binoculars with you and look for them on any steep cliff or mountainside. You will also stand a good chance of seeing them fairly close-up if you tour Denali Park. Since only buses are allowed past the first few miles of road into the park, they are not much disturbed by human traffic and will show up even on the road at times. If you are planning on hiking on some Alaska trails in mountainous areas, you'll also have a good chance of seeing them. I once went on a plane ride with a very good pilot who flew between a glacier wall and a sheer rock wall. We spotted several sheep on a very narrow ledge, many hundreds of feet above the creek valley below. So this is another great way to see Alaska Dall sheep - try an Alaska air taxi service. Just be sure you bring your camera! Now, where there are Alaska Dall Sheep, you will also find their predators! One group of predators is Alaskan Wolves... Return to Top of Alaska Dall Sheep Page Return to Alaska Wildlife Page Return to Tips for Backwoods Alaska Vacations Home Page
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