Turner Valley, Alta - Oct., 29, 2021 - A pair of rams rear up to add force to their head-to-head collision moments later. In October and November rams can be observed butting heads, using their massive horns sometimes weighing 14 kg to display dominance. Mating occurs in November and December. Located about 80 kms southwest of Calgary, the Sheep River Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1973 to protect bighorn sheep, offers a good look at the animals. Mike Sturk photo.

Turner Valley, Alta - Oct., 29, 2021 - Two rams butt heads with tremendous force, the sound echoing through the Sheep River valley. Located about 80 kms southwest of Calgary, the Sheep River Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1973 to protect bighorn sheep, offers a good look at the animals. In October and November, rams can be observed butting heads using their massive horns sometimes weighing 14 kg to display dominance. Mating occurs in November and December. Mike Sturk photo.

Kananaskis Country, west of Longview, Alta - June 16, 2021 - A grizzly sow and her second-year triplets were in a field eating dandelions on the first day Highway 40 reopens after being closed from Dec. 15 to June 15 to protect wildlife. On the re-opening, it’s a good time to see animals before they get pushed back from near the highway where they often like to browse. (Mike Sturk photo)

Kananaskis Country, west of Longview, Alta - June 15, 2021 - A grizzly sow and her second-year triplets were in a field eating dandelions on the first day Highway 40 reopens after being closed from Dec. 15 to June 15 to protect wildlife. On this year’s re-opening, Kananaskis Country visitors will need to purchase annual conservation pass available on a daily ($15) or annual ($90) basis. (Mike Sturk photo)

Blackie, Alta - Oct., 27, 2021 - Thousands of migrating snow geese rise from a grain field where they had been foraging and fly west towards Frank Lake. Mike Sturk photo.

Calgary, Alta - July 8, 2021 - A young saw-whet owl peeks out from its poplar tree nest cavity in a wooded area in south Calgary. (Mike Sturk photo)

Dec. 4, 2018 - Spotting a mouse or a vole, a snowy owl makes a foray from its round bale perch but is unsuccessful and will try again in the snowy stubble east of High River. (Mike Sturk photo)

Okotoks, Alta - Jan. 2, 2021 - A mallard drake lands with a splash onto a backwater to the Sheep River in Okotoks. (Mike Sturk photo)

Blackie, Alta - Aug 16, 2020 - Beating the heat warning - A pair of bull moose, one of them younger, cool off in the 30C heat with a swim in a dugout at the edge of a barley field northeast of Blackie. (Mike Sturk photo)

Turner Valley, Alta - May 26, 2020 - Eventually, the two foraging black bears cross paths and the brown female chases away the intruding away from her territory. Bears are out of their winter dens and roaming the hillsides looking for something to eat these days in the mountains and foothills west of Turner Valley near the Sheep River.(Mike Sturk photo)

Longview, Alta - Jan 23, 2020 - A rare sighting, a barred owl hunts along the Highwood River east of Longview. (Mike Sturk photo)

Northern Pygmy Owl (MIKE STURK PHOTO)