Near Crowheart in Fremont County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Wyoming Winds

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 30, 2016

1. Wyoming Winds Marker

Inscription. On the wind-blown mountain slopes south and west of Dubois winters the world’s largest herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. The bighorn once was found throughout all mountain habitats of the Rockies: today its range is but a remnant. The sheep-eater Indians once hunted the mountains and basins of the Winds. The Wind River Mountains high to the west of this site are inhabited by elk, mule-deer and mountain sheep in the summer. These herds migrate to lower elevation wind-swept slops and shrub-covered basins to winter. The Whiskey Basin sheep population has become an important source of sheep for western American efforts to expand the bighorn’s range and improve the long-term welfare of the species. Through the use of transplanting and hunting the herd in this area is maintained at about 1000 wintering bighorns. Each year excess animals are transplanted to reoccupy former ranges, or supplement bighorn herds throughout the western U.S. and Canada.
The winds constantly blow and keep the foothill vegetation exposed for wintering wildlife. In the rainshadow of the Wind River Mountains the basin does not generally retain deep

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snow cover. As a result, the shrubs and grasses in this area provide an available winter food source to wildlife. The winds play on the landscape to help make “Wyoming’s Wildlife- Worth the Watching.”

Erected by Wyoming Fish and Game Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.

Location. 43° 13.728′ N, 109° 0.516′ W. Marker is near Crowheart, Wyoming, in Fremont County. It is on U.S. 287 near U.S. 26, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10014 U.S Highway 287, Kinnear WY 82516, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Wind River Indian Reservation

and in Wind River Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Riverton Project (a few steps from this marker).

Another marker is

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 30, 2016

2. Wyoming Winds Marker

no longer nearby. Crowheart Butte (was approx. 6.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. This marker is locate at the Kinnear Rest Area.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 507 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 28, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.