COLORADO SPRINGS — "We've had some Ram Jams in the park.” Garden of the Gods, Park Manager, John Stark is talking about numerous traffic jams this week. The cause is bighorn sheep down from the mountain and near the road in the park.
There is a herd of bighorns that typically keeps its distance on the mountain east of Garden of the Gods. Odds of them moving into the park go up in winter months because there are less people visiting. Only when they do show up, “less people” often turns into a crowd. Drivers seem unable to resist the urge to not just slow down, but also stop where it is prohibited. Rangers have a friendly request. "To not park in the bike lane, to not leave your vehicle unattended in the bike lane, but rather to park in one of our designated parking areas," said Stark
Ignoring signs and jumping fences for a closer look, can quickly turn dangerous and damages the parks ecosystem. "It may not seem like a big deal when you're getting that perfect shot, but we want to remember to keep our wildlife wild and we also want to limit walking off trails and the damage it can do to our park resources," said Stark.
Enjoying the rare sight is fine. Just park in designated space first, stay on trails, and keep your distance.
