Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Badlands National Park

A group of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep atop a grassy butte in Badlands National Park. Similar to bison, bighorn sheep are native to the area but populations declined significantly due to hunting during westward expansion. The species was successfully re-introduced to the park in the 1960s. The park is concerned about how water and forage availability might change as the climate changes, and what this would mean for grazers like bighorn sheep.