With fair weather coming so late, it's not surprising that these mountain sheep herds breed well after their southern cousins. Entering the rut, Dall's sheep are heavy with fat and their bodies are covered with a dense coat. Millions of coarse, hollow hairs lock in body heat and insulate against the cold. All day, I notice through my spotting scope, the rams move from ewe to ewe in search of clues to breeding receptivity. By scent alone a ram can determine a ewe's readiness.
Large rams follow certain ewes and attack lesser males that approach.
Rams chase ewes, kick or feint head butts at one another and generally remain in near-constant motion. The lambs born the previous spring spend most of the day feeding and trying to stay out of the commotion. When not harassed by rams, ewes paw through the thin snow and graze on the exposed forage. None of the rams I observe ever stop to feed. To survive in these mountains, wintering sheep reduce daily activities and avoid needless energy waste and heat loss.