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Show PAGE 24 THE ZEPHYRJAN-FE- 1996 B 1 have been reintroduced back into places where desert bighorns historically ranged. and dangerously The fifty or so bighorns that hang around Arches National Park I hope that comment: Author's of this 191 are newcomers dose to Highway type. of we are not witnessing the start of "ram jams" on this stretch highway by the old Atlas mill. Sheep watchers who squeal to a halt barely off the road will not mix well Kenworth with screaming down the grade toward Moab. I'll bet there are some people who would like to livelife as a desert bighorn sheep instead of a human. I wonder what that might be like... g The old bighorn ewe was about to give birth for the last time. A boulder-strewn rainshower pelted her with big drops as she climbed slowly up the steep, talus slope. Her full life of experience led her to what she knew was the safest spot to deliver her lamb. Reaching a narrow strip of flat ground at the base of an overhanging cliff, she could see everything that moved in the canyon below. Nothing without wings could reach her from above. 'She was not completely alone, however. Attending the birth were the figures of four bighorn sheep that had been chipped by ancient human hands into the varnished wall of sandstone just behind her. As the dominant ewe among a small group of females and their young, she had established a home range that met their every need. It was part of a large canyon, not unlike the middle part of Kane Creek Canyon (to give a quick mental image). The stream in the canyon bottom had never dried up during her lifetime, though it had become a bare trickle during one very hot season. Sandy soils on the level benches d beside the stream supplied ample food. The canyon side slopes were cut by small gullies and dotted with occasional huge boulders calved off from the overlying cliffs. These open slopes were safe havens from the canine and feline predators that roamed the country: the sheep's hooves and legs were well adapted to moving rapidly and outdistancing their predators over the rugged terrain. The little male lamb was healthy. Within a couple days his young legs were carrying him nimbly after his mother among the rocks of the talus slope. Within a couple weeks he was following her down to the canyon bottom to join the rest of the small band five ewes with new lambs, and seven other youngsters bom the two years. It had been a wet winter, and now the sandy benches were lush previous with food: blackbrush and four-winsaltbush shrubs, Indian ricegrass and blue grama growing in between Though most of the little lamb's nourishment came from nursing, after a month he began to sample these tasty vegetative morsels. The crop of new lambs grew quickly during the summer. The ewes led the group around their four-mi- le range of canyon, searching for the best available food. One autumn morning the group was in the canyon bottom near the upper end of their range. The ewes casually browsed and kept watch for predators. Their newest (but no longer tiny) lambs chased each other playfully around, never venturing far from their mothers. Except for one of the lambs, that is. The dominant ewe's male lamb had become just a bit smarter and bolder than the others -t- raits not always mutually advantageous. He had wandered away from the group a short distance; drawn by a real treat: leaves of some single-lea- f aril trees that grew in the rocks near the foot of the talus slope. Suddenly three of the adults froze, their attention instantly drawn by a scent on the breeze. Then they sensed a hint of movement among the rocks not too for away: a sleek yellow body padding noiselessly on cushioned paws, now crouching motionless in wait. The bold lamb was engrossed by his ash-lebanquet, unaware that the mountain lion was closest to him. The adults sounded an alarm and drove the band up among the boulders and gullies of their nearby escape terrain. Except for the dominant ewe; that is. With all the speed that her old legs could muster, she ran between her offspring and his stalker. She managed to head her lamb up the slope; and his strong legs allowed him to reach safe haven with the other sheep. His mother, however, was not able to outrun the lion and join the band. Her bold male lamb became an orphan at six months of age. The young male stayed with his group, now led by another dominant ewe; until just after his third winter. Heading into that spring, the attention and energy of the pregnant ewes was given wholly to the younger members Of the band. No longer accepted by the group, he now had to fend for himself. This was a task, however, for which his upbringing and intelligence had prepared him quite well It has been said that adult male bighorn sheep might as well be a separate species, since they join the ewes only for the prospect of breeding from about mid October through December. The bold young ram thus settled into a largely solitary existence. Full. of vigor, he had the run of the canyon where he was bom. His inquisitiveness led him outward to other rocky canyons and plateaus and finally to a stream of flowing brown water so wide that he did not dare try to cross it, at least at first Eventually he joined up with several other young rams about his age. Together they roamed and rested and ate and slept under the dearest skies on the continent. - fully-loade- Down Earth By Joel Tuhy What's all the hoopla and excitement about this Lamb Issue' of the Zephyr? Last November, Stiles left a note on my desk at the office saying "Next deadline is December 6 for the January 'LAMB' issue." Is he crazy? Devoting a whole issue to lambs? Is this symptomatic of some unfulfilled personal need of his? But more to the Stiles is point: How am going to fill up a whole column writing about lambs? But the editor and therefore the boss, so I will do my best to accommodate his idiosyncrasies. In considering what to write about lambs, I would be remiss if I did not first mention how noteworthy they are. It is obvious that lambs have had substantial impact on human society, culture and civilization.. As an example, lambs have inspired great works of literature and music. Who can forget such timeless classics as: Mary hoi a little lamb Whose fleece was black as cod. And everywhere that Mary went The lamb fell in a hole. and: Mmme doats and doazk doats Hi And little lamb zeedioee iH KidzeUeedivee too Why don't you? Hi iH The things that lambs become when they grow up (sheep) have also provided inspiration for great humor through the years. For example: Q. Why was the ram crying? A. Because he just heard the song There will never be another ewe". (Get it? get it? ewc-yo- u? ha-ha- ' ?) But enough of this serious stuff. I need to find a way to roll this Lamb-Issu- e theme into my regular column approach i.e., nature. This might not be too difficult, since lambs are animals and therefore a part of nature. In considering how to do this, I suppose I should rely on my scientific training. From a scientific standpoint; therefore; let me say that lambs can be classified into two taxonomic categories: (1) Cute fuzzy babies of domestic sheep; and (2) Cute playful babies of wild desert radius of Moab, but (it is to be bighorn sheep. Both can be seen within a thirty-mil- e hoped) not in the same places because the health of the latter seems to depend on not mingling with the former. Speaking of the latter, we know that desert bighorn lambs (and sheep) historically lived through much of the western U.S., at least in the lower elevations. They were especially at home in and around the rugged river canyons of southeastern Utah. Several of the modem herds around here are native, meaning that they have remained in place throughout the period of settlement by white humans. The Canyonlands herds (Island in the Sky) and south San Juan herds are of this type. Other present-da- y - d late-sprin- talus-covere- - g af - SUPER SOLAR SALE Remanufactured ARCO M-5- 2 PV Modules Conservatively rated at 35 watts, each has 36 high efficiency-single-cryst- al silicon square cells manufactured with 30 year design life goal, compatible with all brands of solar modules, these are ideal for increasing the output of an existing solar system. Perfect for small power applications, such as charging RV and marine batteries. EACH (S5J7WATT) 12 VOLT. 35 WATT-.519- 5 105 WATT. (3)MQDULES.$500 12 VOLT. (S4.46WATT . high-performan- 5 year warranty. Call for brochure. Quantity discounts available. Complete solar systems and components. 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