The Grand Canyon State boats a myriad of wildlife, many species of which are extremely rare. Desert bighorn sheep are majestic, endangered creatures that can be spotted in one of the state’s most famed natural wonders: The Wave. See for yourself:
The Wave Trail is a 6.2-mile, moderately intense hike that features beautiful undulating rock formations created long ago via erosion. Although it doesn’t seem like wildlife would abound in the vast, lonely desert landscape, Bighorn Sheep are regularly spotted traipsing around.
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A subspecies of the regular bighorn sheep, this desert variety can go months at a time without drinking any water. Their bodies retain moisture through food alone, and they can survive even after losing up to 30 percent of their body weight.
Flickr/markbyzewski
Unfortunately, the desert bighorn sheep population has been steadily declining since the 16th century. They’re now an endangered species, so laying eyes on one is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Flickr/markbyzewski
Lucky for us, one of the country’s highest concentrations can be found in the Sonoran Desert. It’s not uncommon to see nearly 100 of the creatures in one single herd, whereas most packs have no more than 8-10.
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Only 20 people are allowed to visit The Wave per day, and permits are quite difficult to obtain — but the experience heavily outweighs all the adversity of getting there. Click here for more information on snagging one of those elusive spots.
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Have you ever seen bighorn sheep at The Wave? Where else in Arizona can these majestic creatures be spotted?
Flickr/markbyzewski
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