Majestic Ram Dies of Natural Causes

[Sombeech]

MAJESTIC RAM DIES OF NATURAL CAUSES

A world-class bighorn sheep ram that lived along the Arkansas River was found dead in late November. Over the past few years, the ram was spotted in a small herd of sheep that lived on private property west of Pueblo Reservoir.

Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) biologists estimate the ram was between 12 and 13 years old and was driven from the herd by younger males. At that point, he traveled north onto property owned by Fort Carson where it died of old age. A necropsy indicated heart and lung problems along with arthritis and a chest infection.

"This old guy is one for the record books," said Allen Vitt, a terrestrial biologist from Pueblo. "Based on the initial measurements, the ram will score among the largest in the world."

The current Boone & Crocket world record ram is 208 and three-eighths. Scoring is done by taking a series of standardized measurements. Boone & Crocket requires that horns dry for at least 60 days before measuring, so a final score will not be calculated until February.

One thing that might prevent this sheep from becoming a new world record is that fact that one of its horns was broken off at the tip. "Brooming" is the name for the chipping and fraying of the horns. It is usually caused by fighting.

Regardless of the final score, the ram was one of the most majestic bighorn sheep recorded in Colorado.

One of the reasons this ram's horns grew to such massive proportions is because he lived a long time in relative seclusion. There is no public access to the portion of the Arkansas River where it lived. The rocky cliffs adjacent to the river provided ample protection from predators and there was good access to forage and water.

Fort Carson military and wildlife officials discovered the ram on the southern end of their property in late August and kept a close eye on it to ensure its safety. The ram was showing signs of old age including decreased muscle mass, fatigue, and had become seemingly unafraid of humans. "We were very fortunate that personnel at Fort Carson found the ram," said Shaun Deeney, an area wildlife manager from Colorado Springs. "Due to their vigilance, we will be able to preserve this majestic animal for future generations." The DOW plans to have the ram mounted to use in an educational display.

[ChiefAutoParts]

That's a big one!