A group of hikers from the San Gabriel Mountains recently encountered a rare sighting.
As seen in an image posted by the Instagram account @lahikes on May 29, hikers discovered a swarm of shy and elusive creatures surrounded by forests north of Los Angeles.
Environmentalists said it is very rare to find so many bighorn sheep at once, and social media posts described the sightings as “a difficult phenomenon to catch.”
“We sat for over 30 minutes and saw these animals do their things on the cliffs opposite us, and it was a treat to capture,” read the caption in the post.
“They usually stick together for protection,” explained the slideshow in the post. “The men are seen in large curved corners and overlook the tribe.”
The images showed and explained how a family of Bighorn sheep were grazing by clinging to a mountainside sedimented with hoofs.
The Bighorn sheep family can be found in the mountains of San Gabriel. May 2025 (@lahikes on instagram) A family of bighorn sheep can be seen in the San Gabriel Mountains. May 2025 (@lahikes on instagram) A family of bighorn sheep can be seen in the San Gabriel Mountains. May 2025. (@lahikes on instagram)
According to the National Wildlife Federation, the animal’s outer hooves are “modified toenails shaped to get a few protrusions, while the soft inner pads provide a grip that fits each variable surface.”
The federal website adds: “While not as agile as a goat, Bighorn sheep are good for climbing steep terrain that keeps predators at bay.”
This type of sheep usually live in Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and in the rough mountainous areas of Los Angeles, apparently in their backyards.
