Magpie on Big Horn Sheep

These two Bighorn rams were taking a mid-day rest on the high banks of the Yellowstone River when along came a Magpie who systematically investigated each and hopped from one to another.  The Black-billed Magpie frequently lands on large mammals, such as Bighorns and Moose, to remove tics.  The magpie eats the tics and then hides some for later use, as members of the Crow and Jay family often do with excess food.  Often the tics are cached alive and unharmed, and may live to reproduce later.