Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "Bighorn Sheep" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media on Illustration Board painting.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.N. 34c Bighorn Sheep stamp issued April 4, 2002.

The beautiful and majestic Bighorn Sheep inhabits the Rocky Mountains in North America from southern Canada to Colorado and is also found as a desert subspecies from Nevada, California and west Texas, extending south into Mexico. Classified Ovis canadensis, the Bighorn Sheep has excellent eyesight, a thick muscular body, and a dense coat that provides warmth at high elevations. Skillful climbers and jumpers, they navigate easily through steep, rugged terrain as they follow narrow mountainside trails. Bighorn Sheep migrate between high mountain slopes in the summer and foothill slopes in winter. The adult male is called a ram, and displays large ridged horns that curve backward, spiraling to encircle the ear. The horns continue to grow throughout the animal's life -- in fact, horns are a symbol of rank, with older, dominant males sporting larger curls. During the fall rutting season, rams engage in butting contests in which they charge at each other at speeds in excess of 20 mph. The sharp crack of their massive horns colliding can be heard more than a mile away. These animals feed on a variety of indigenous vegetation like grasses and sedges, and in winter, when plants are dormant, they forage among willows, shrubs, forbs, sage, bearberry, rose and other woody plants. They get their water from melted snow and mountain pools. Human encroachment upon its habitat is the greatest threat to the survival of Bighorn Sheep.

Image Size: 10.5 x 9 in.
Overall Size: 20 x 15 in.
Unframed.
(B16977)

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