Most of them seem to be fairly sedentary, hanging out within a mile or two of where they were collared. But this one does travel farther. Estimated to number about 2,000 in the Chugach Mountains near Anchorage, Dall sheep regularly seek out mineral deposits to augment their diets, especially during summer. The most dramatic local site centers on rock outcroppings by Turnagain Arm about 15 miles from Anchorage's southern neighborhoods. In summer, the group seems to be mostly ewes and lambs, while fall and winter attract more rams, according to Meiners.
Females come in the springtime.
They have high mineral demands because of lactation, producing milk for youngsters. No matter what the reason, the sight of brilliant white sheep posing on cliffs practically unhinges motorists, often Outside tourists, who then slam on brakes and fishtail into the gravel pullout. Intent to snatch a quick photo, some people dash across the highway with hardly a glance at oncoming traffic. There are always a bunch of skid marks. A sheep-viewing facility with a parking lot and pedestrian overpass may be built as part of an upgrade of the highway between Potter Marsh and Bird Creek, Meiners said.