|
|
|
|
|
Much of the inhabited part of the Grand Staircase area is farming and ranching country. While I was traveling through the area primarily to view the spectacular scenic vistas and geology of Southern Utah and did not have lenses appropriate for wildlife opportunities, I occasionally encountered some ranch animals. These are some of those photographs.
This page contains images of llama on a ranch in Loa, Utah near Capitol Reef, including a mating ritual and some close portraits. It also has images of sheep on Boulder Mountain and a cow and calf that blocked travel on Cottonwood Canyon Road near Grosvenor Arch.
Click an image to open a larger version. Use your back button to return to this page.
|
Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Grand Staircase Escalante Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
There are 7 Galleries in the Photoshelter Grand Staircase Escalante Collection
Direct Link to the Grand Staircase Wildlife gallery:
Grand Staircase Wildlife
|
Llamas Loa Utah 1297 (441 KB)
Loa, Utah is the Wayne County Seat. Settled by Mormon pioneers in 1876, its name means high, large and powerful in Hawaiian (it was named by a missionary who had served in Hawaii). Loa is on State Route 24, not far from Capitol Reef National Park. It is a small town with about 500 people and apparently an equal number of llamas. Llamas are a South American camelid, raised for its lanolin-free wool and as a livestock guard for sheep herds. A single gelding llama bods rapidly to sheep (and especially lambs), and is very effective in reducing predator attacks.
|
Llama Loa Utah 1285 (312 KB)
Llamas are very social animals and are extremely curious.
|
Llama Juvenile Loa Utah 1309 (340 KB)
The juveniles are incredibly cute and very friendly.
|
Llama Juvenile Loa Utah 1290 (406 KB)
A juvenile near its mother searches for the clicking sound.
|
Llama Juvenile Loa Utah 1294 (395 KB)
This gave me an excellent opportunity for portraits.
|
Llama Juvenile Loa Utah 1292 (313 KB)
Llamas have a two layer coat. The fine undercoat is used for garments and the coarse outer coat for rugs and ropes.
|
Llama Juvenile Loa Utah 1293 (335 KB)
Llamas were traditionally used as pack animals in their native South America, especially by Incas in the Peruvian Andes.
|
Llama Loa Utah 1296 (555 KB)
Eventually, the juvenile went back to grazing. Note the black-tipped tail.
|
Llama Portrait Loa Utah 1299 (222 KB)
An extreme close-portrait of a white llama.
|
Llama Portrait Loa Utah 1302 (212 KB)
Profile portrait of a brown llama.
|
Llama Portrait Loa Utah 1307 (179 KB)
|
Llama Portrait Loa Utah 1308 (174 KB)
|
Two more distant portraits of the same white llama shown in the close portrait. Note the characteristically long, inward-curved banana-shaped ears of the llama.
Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Grand Staircase Escalante Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
There are 7 Galleries in the Photoshelter Grand Staircase Escalante Collection
Direct Link to the Grand Staircase Wildlife gallery:
Grand Staircase Wildlife
Llama Courtship Ritual
|
Llama Courtship Loa Utah 1311 (293 KB)
The female approaches the male and sniffs his neck.
|
Llama Courtship Loa Utah 1312 (282 KB)
She then bumps her head under his chin.
|
Llama Courtship Loa Utah 1313 (593 KB)
This is followed by a neck-wrestling session.
|
Llama Courtship Loa Utah 1316 (313 KB)
After the neck-wrestling, both the female and male exchange bites.
|
Llama Courtship Loa Utah 1318 (476 KB)
There is a lot of activity during the biting phase.
|
Llama Courtship Loa Utah 1319 (563 KB)
The male gets in a few bites too...
|
Llama Courtship Loa Utah 1321 (746 KB)
... but the female seems to get in most of the bites.
Below is a composite showing 12 of 14 shots taken during the llama mating ritual, including the denouement.
|
Llama Courtship Ritual Loa Utah XXL (812 KB)
A composite of 12 of the 14 shots taken during a llama mating ritual (Composite will open in a new window or tab)
The female approaches the male, sniffs his neck, bumps his chin, and they begin to neck-wrestle. The female nuzzles the males ear, then bites his neck. The male responds by nipping her on the leg. This begins an exchange of neck bites, during which the female seems to get the best of the encounter. The male mounts the female in a kush (laying) position. Once finished, she stands up and the male bows.
|
Sheep Boulder Mountain 0414 (977 KB)
Sheep climbing the southeastern flank of Boulder Mountain.
|
Sheep Boulder Mountain 0417 (1087 KB)
A profile closeup of a domestic sheep on Boulder Mountain.
|
Paria Valley Cattle 6814 (791 KB)
A cow and her calf blocking Cottonwood Canyon Road across the nearly dried-out Paria River near Grosvenor Arch.
|
Paria Valley Cattle 6816 (803 KB)
The cow seemed to be obsessed with licking her nose (or maybe she is tasting the fragrant scents in the air).
|
Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Grand Staircase Escalante Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
There are 7 Galleries in the Photoshelter Grand Staircase Escalante Collection
Direct Link to the Grand Staircase Wildlife gallery:
Grand Staircase Wildlife
|
Click the Display Composite above to return to the Grand Staircase Escalante Index page
|
Click the Display Composite above to return to the Southwest Index page
|
|
|
|
|
|