Bighorn Sheep Need Habitat
June 12th, 2009 Posted by Larry Hogue in Endangered Species
The Center for Biological Diversity, the Desert Protective Council, and three other conservation groups yesterday filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service over a decision that threatens the endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep. We believe that the agency erred when it reduced critical habitat for these charismatic animals by 55% in April.
After years of population decline due to habitat loss, disease (possibly spread by domestic livestock), and some mountain lion predation, the Peninsular bighorn numbered just 276 individuals in 1996, before beginning to rebound to a population of 800 today. That recovery was brought about by a combination of environmental factors and conservation efforts. Bighorn experts saw the designation of 845,000 acres of critical habitat in 2001 as a key conservation tool.
The habitat reduction came as a result of a lawsuit by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and industry groups in the Coachella Valley. The reduction to just 377,000 acres places the interests of urban sprawl development over those of the bighorn, removing some of the most important habitat for summer-time foraging as well as corridors that allow movement between isolated bands of sheep.
Read more about the notice here.
(Photo of Peninsular bighorn sheep in Borrego Palm Canyon by Larry Hogue.)
2 Responses to “Bighorn Sheep Need Habitat”
By Liz at Yips and Howls on Jul 15, 2009
Strange. In the Hells Canyon region near where I live, US Fish and Wildlife is restricting a lot of activity (such as having even a few goats or sheep) to protect other species of Bighorn Sheep. It doesn’t make sense to reduce habitat elsewhere. Thanks for the information.
By Bob Baran on Jan 25, 2010
Saw a beautiful herd of Desert Bighorn yesterday out near Indian Hill in Anza Borrego.
Absolutely incredible expereience.
I am still in awe. :-)