Mountain Play

Dall Sheep lamb standing proud on her perch. This is a favorite stop for many people on the highway to Seward Ak. Seen in Autumn thru early Spring... more

by Chris Heitstuman

Title

Mountain Play

Artist

Chris Heitstuman

Medium

Photograph

Description

Dall Sheep lamb standing proud on her perch. This is a favorite stop for many people on the highway to Seward Ak. Seen in Autumn thru early Spring then they head up to the high country to their Summer feeding grounds.
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Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli dalli) inhabit the mountain ranges of Alaska. These white creatures are most notable for the males’ massive curled horns. Females (known as ewes) also carry horns, but theirs are shorter and more slender, and only slightly curved. Until rams reach the age of 3 years, they tend to resemble the ewes quite a bit. After that, continued horn growth makes the males easily recognizable. Horns grow steadily during spring, summer, and early fall. In late fall or winter, horn growth slows and eventually ceases. This start-and-stop growth results in a pattern of rings called annuli which are spaced along the length of the horn, and can help determine age. Dall rams as old as 16 years have been seen, and ewes have been known to reach 19 years of age. Generally, however, a 12 year old sheep is considered quite old.
Lambs are born to ewes in late May or early June. As lambing time approaches, ewes seek solitude and protection from predators in the most rugged cliffs available on their spring ranges. Lambs begin feeding on vegetation within a week after birth and are usually weaned by October. Ewes typically have their first lamb at age 3 or 4 and produce a lamb annually.

The first weeks of a lamb’s life are precarious. The bulk of the mortality is in first 30 to 45 days of life, when the lambs are most vulnerable.

Adult rams live in bands which seldom associate with ewe groups beyond the mating season in late November and early December. The horn clashing that rams are so well known for doesn’t result from fights over possession of ewes, but is a means of establishing order. These clashes occur throughout the year on an occasional basis, but occur more frequently just before the rut when rams are moving among the ewes and meet unfamiliar rams of similar horn size. Rams can sire offspring at 18 months of age, but normally do not breed regularly until they approach dominance rank (at full curl age and size).
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Chris grew up in Spokane Washington and has lived in Alaska for 20 years where her passion for hiking and photography collided. Each and every moment is an experience with God's creation that will never be repeated. She has captured the essence of those moments as well as the beauty, uniqueness, and the splendor of God's handiwork.

Uploaded

April 10th, 2013