Imperial National Wildlife Refuge: Part V

On to the Desert Bighorn Sheep from Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. Imperial NWR is about 35 (driving miles) north of Yuma along the Colorado River. First you come to Martinez Lake which is a recreational lake with home sites along its edges. The refuge begins at the north end of the lake (Meers Point). Less than one mile north of Meers Point is the Visitor's Center which has many very nice displays of the refuge's wildlife. The refuge continues for 30 miles along the Colorado River. Most of that is area is protected wetlands and the only access is by the river. Red Cloud Mine Road follows the river for about 5 miles within the refuge (4x4 recommended). Then there is another 5 miles through a slice of the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground and into the Trigo Mountains. Once into the Yuma proving ground a very good 4x4 vehicle is required. Past YPG is the Trigo Mountain Wilderness (owned by the Bureau of Land Management). I have been out to the mine (another five miles). Actually, I have been beyond the mine along Clip Wash but that got "awfully" sandy so didn't go more than a mile or two. The point of describing this is that the Desert Bighorn Sheep with some luck can be anywhere along this road. I have had most success beyond the boundaries of Imperial NWR, although this time found some at Imperial and YPG but none in the Trigo Mountains. Here is a photo taken in the YPG stretch:

Desert Bighorn Ram