While on a recent drive through the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, my wife and I happened upon thousands of sheep. They were headed down the road under the guidance of people on horseback, people in pickup trucks, people on foot, and dogs — I presume sheep dogs. Other than the sheep, there was very little traffic on the road so I just followed along slowly taking photos through the windshield. I eventually pulled off the road and got out of the car to watch the proceedings. The air was filled with the sound of hooves clopping on the pavement accompanied by a “baa baa” here, a “baa baa” there, here a “baa,” there a “baa,” everywhere a “baa baa!”
I know nothing about raising sheep but I assumed they were being brought down to lower elevations for the winter. After a while I noticed what appeared to be the reason they were on the road. There was a river ahead and the sheep were being driven over the highway bridge and then back into their pasture. Once they were back in the pasture they all headed down to the river to drink. One lonely sheep swam across the river but there was no way for him to get out so he headed back.
When all of the sheep were in the new pasture one of the herders reinstalled several barbed-wire laden fence posts to close them in. I waved and then went over to talk to him. He said there were about 3000 sheep. As I guessed, they were being brought down from their summer pastures. The lambs would now be separated from the ewes. We didn’t speak long but I asked if I could take his picture and he happily posed. I read in one of our guide books that there are many Basque sheep herders that work in the Big Horns so he may be Basque.
If you’re ever caught in a sheep drive you should note that 3000 sheep spew quite a bit of exhaust from their tail pipes. That exhaust easily finds its way to the bottom of your shoes. It took a couple days for me to get them clean again.