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DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP
Jeff Cole, Wildlife Manager [email protected]
928-871-6595 Department of Fish and Wildlife
Research and Management Section
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TODAY’S PRESENTATION
Desert Bighorn sheep
History Status on the NN Management
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GOAL
Bighorn sheep and their habitat are protected on the Navajo Nation
The Dept. of Fish and Wildlife’s goal is to restore and protect the Bighorn population by increasing the population and establishing additional herds of sheep
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CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Traditionally bighorn sheep supplied food, clothing, and
other products Parts are used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes Goal to offer hunts for Tribal Members
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ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE NON-NAVAJOS WILL PAY $35,000 TO $57,000 FOR A HUNTING PERMIT
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BIGHORN SHEEP MANAGEMENT
1997 radio telemetry study initiated. GOAL: To provide information necessary for effective conservation and management. size distribution habitat/diet requirements carrying capacity
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BIGHORN SHEEP MANAGEMENT CONT.
Threats to Bighorn sheep 1. Disease from domestic/feral sheep and goats 2. Competition with livestock for forage 3. Poaching 4. Predation 5. River recreation 6. Accidents
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HISTORY OF THE BIGHORN SHEEP POPULATION
bighorn sheep were fairly numerous …until the 1860’s” (William Fair, 1942)
1963 – report of six BHS on the San Juan River
1979 – 1 confirmed BHS
1980’s – DFW initiated surveys of BHS (`15-25 BHS)
1997 – Study initiated (pop. 34 animals). 16 radio collars deployed.
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HISTORY OF THE BIGHORN SHEEP POPULATION - CONTINUED NOV. 2002 – 13 MORE RADIO-COLLARS DEPLOYED 2003 – A VIABLE POP. (78-80 BHS) 2004 – 19 ACTIVE RADIO COLLARS IN THE UPPER SJR CANYON 2008 TRANSPLANT 24 SHEEP TO LAKE POWELL 2011 RADIO COLLARED MORE SHEEP ON RAPLEE RIDGE HEARD AND TRADED 20 SHEEP TO ARIZONA FOR A TRANSPLANT 2015 – 20 MORE SHEEP TRANSPLANTED TO LAKE POWEL HERD
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LOCATION OF BIGHORN SHEEP RANGE @1996
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BIGHORN SHEEP POPULATION TODAY
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DISEASE FROM DOMESTIC SHEEP What can we do?
-prevent the domestic sheep and Bighorn from interacting as much as possible
How?
Keeping a close eye on our sheep
If a wild sheep comes in contact with domestic sheep we will remove that sheep from the wild
Any sheep we handle gets preventative disease treatments and disease testing
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COMPETITION WITH LIVESTOCK Competition for forage There are no grazing
permits in the Raplee Ridge area
Trespass livestock were removed and fences were installed to exclude them
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POACHING
One confirmed case Radio-collared ram Carcass found without head S. side of river closed to
vehicles. Two locked gates on the road to Raplee Ridge
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OTHER THREATS TO BHS
•PREDATION Keen eyesight and rugged terrain minimize predation Mtn. lion, feral dogs, coyote, eagles •ACCIDENTS Falls and fighting •OTHER Bacterial infections resulting from ingesting non-native weeds
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BACTERIAL INFECTION FROM A NON-NATIVE GRASS – SUMMER 2001
Bromus tectorum (cheat grass) ended this ram’s life
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RIVER RECREATION
River closed to camping No dogs allowed on river
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CONCLUSION
What have we have accomplished so far? Established 3 herds of sheep Developed a Bighorn Sheep Management Plan Population has increased from 34 to over 500 Reduced threats to the sheep Established a bighorn sheep exhibit at the Zoo Pieces of horn are available to the public for ceremonial use
What Will We Continue to do?
Monitor the population Seek additional transplant locations