I think this experience is one of the reason I have fallen in love with the Big Horn Sheep in the Badlands. I was photographing a mediocre sunrise one morning, and when I turned around to leave, this guy had snuck up behind me on a small ridge. He was grazing peacefully, and didn’t seem to mind my presence. He would periodically look at me to see what I was up to, and I made sure to take slow and methodical movements and I went past him. Like I had mentioned in the owl photo yesterday, I very much try to not disturb wildlife. I want my presence to not be a concern of the animal. Like I said, this one came to me. I did not make my way toward it.
I am starting a project that will focus on the big horn population in the park. Back in 2021-2022, they lost a large percentage of the population due to a bacterial infection. I’ve been chatting with one of the biologists at the park, and doing research on how it’s affecting their population. The project needs another trip or two out to the park, specifically in winter. I’ll get there.