• Red cliffs descend into the water of Bighorn Canyon

    Bighorn Canyon

    National Recreation Area MT,WY

Mammals

Bighorn Sheep. The most famous mammal in the park!
Bighorn Sheep. The most famous mammal in the park!
NPS (Henthorne)
 

What do black bears, wild horses and Bighorn Canyon visitors all have in common? They are all mammals! Mammals vary greatly in appearance, behavior, and required habitats, but all mammals share certain characteristics, that help distinguish them from other living animals. All mammals:

  • are warm-blooded; meaning they can maintain a constant internal body temperature, despite varying external temperatures.
  • give birth to live young, and can produce milk to nourish them.
  • Have hair or fur, helping to keep them warm and provide insulation.

In this section of our website, you can learn more about some of the most common and interesting of Bighorn Canyon's mammals.

Did You Know?

Fishing the Bighorn River, photo by Doug Haacke

Prior to the completion of Yellowtail Dam, the Bighorn River was a muddy, warm water prairie stream.  The dam transformed the river into a cold, clear tailwater ideally suited to rainbow and brown trout, and aquatic insects.  The Bighorn River now draws visitors and anglers from around the globe. More...