By Fernanda Landeros

When I was growing up in the Vail Valley, my family and I would often take day trips around Colorado. During the drives, we would frequently spot bighorn sheep, deer, and other animals hanging out by the side of the interstate. My mom would always yell out, “¡Mira donde andan trepadas!”, or “Look where they’re standing!” in Spanish, and my brothers and I would scramble to the window to find them standing on the smallest ledges on the mountainside. Even now, it brings me joy whenever I see a herd of bighorn sheep or deer and elk hanging out around the valley in their habitats. 

The Vail Bighorn Preserve and the surrounding environment have come to be even more critical for conservation and habitat preservation. In September of 2025, Eagle Valley Land Trust and the Town of Vail signed the last document needed to finalize a conservation easement on the Vail Bighorn Preserve, protecting the property permanently. Protecting the area not only helps to preserve the habitat and scenic value present on the property, but also protects the wildlife that have called it their home. 

Bighorn Sheep Ecology & Population

The bighorn sheep is Colorado’s state animal and represents resilience through their ability to adapt to and navigate the terrain in which they live. Bighorn sheep stand at nearly three feet tall at shoulder height, and at six feet in length. The male sheep, known as rams, weigh between 150 and 250 pounds and are distinctly characterized by their big horns that curl outward and can weigh roughly 10% of their body weight. The female sheep, or ewes, have smaller horns and can weigh between 120 to 200 pounds. These animals are able to navigate the difficult mountain terrain due to specialized hooves and lightweight bodies that allow them to climb and stay away from predators. 

In the summer, bighorn sheep are typically found at higher elevations (6,000 to 11,000 feet) where they eat shrubbery, sagebrush, and other types of grasses. In the winter, they are found at lower elevations (2,500 to 5,800 feet), where they typically also eat woody shrubs, along with subalpine grass. The mating season takes place between November and December, where the bighorn sheep migrate to the lower elevations. It is during this time when they are most likely to interact with humans. 

The Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep are native to Colorado, but due to rapid industrial development, hunting, and diseases in the late 19th century, the bighorn sheep population declined dramatically. Between the late 1800s and early 1900s, hundreds of bighorn sheep died and by 1950, an estimated 2,200 remained in Colorado. But the population is now rebounding. The Colorado Division of Wildlife introduced herds from the neighboring national parks and now the population is measuring at 7,040 bighorn sheep, half of which are Colorado natives. 

Importance of Land Conservation

While the Bighorn Preserve is primarily named for the iconic bighorn sheep, these aren’t the only animals protected by this conservation easement. Other animals such as elk, mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, lynx, golden eagles, and other birds and small mammals utilize the property. Much like the bighorn population, the elk and other animal populations have also been declining due to construction and development threatening their habitats. The animals are fleeing from the disruptions, pushing them away from their habitats. 

This is why land conservation is important: it not only keeps our forests protected and naturally beautiful, it also ensures their long-term survival and keeps our wildlife protected from wildfire, deforestation, and human threats. 

In March of 2026, the town of Vail announced that it would partner with Colorado Parks and Wildlife on a project that is focused on improving nearly 3,600 acres of habitats in the East Vail area. The goal of this partnership is to reduce the risk of wildfire and water shortages through forest restoration and improve natural corridors that stretch around the area. Through these measures, hopefully the Bighorn Preserve can continue to protect the wildlife that call it their home, and protect the beautiful nature that makes the Vail Valley such a special place.

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References

CPW. (2023, December 29). Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Colorado Parks and Wildlife. https://cpw.state.co.us/species/rocky-mountain-bighorn-sheep 

Goldstein, Z. (2023, November 27). How can Eagle County save its declining elk population? Vail Daily | How Can Eagle County Save Its Declining Elk Population? https://www.vaildaily.com/news/how-can-eagle-county-save-its-declining-elk-population/. 

Kersey, T. (2019). Bighorn Sheep | Colorado Encyclopedia. Colorado Encyclopedia. https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/bighorn-sheep 

LaConte, J. (2026, March 16). Vail Council to consider partnership with CPW on Bighorn Sheep Habitat Improvement Project. Vail Daily. https://www.vaildaily.com/news/vail-council-to-consider-partnership-with-cpw-on-bighorn-sheep-habitat-improvement-project/ 

Tjossem, B. (2025a, October 29). 146-acre Vail Bighorn Preserve protected forever. Eagle Valley Land Trust. https://evlt.org/146-acre-vail-bighorn-preserve-protected-forever/ 

Tjossem, B. (2025b, October 29). Trust Our Land: Protecting Vail’s Iconic Bighorn Perch Forever. Vail Daily. https://www.vaildaily.com/opinion/trust-our-land-protecting-vails-iconic-bighorn-perch-forever/ Weida, D. (2025, February 14). The Bighorn Sheep. Colorado Mountain Expeditions. https://coloradotrailhiking.com/blog/14609/The-Bighorn-Sheep