Bighorn Sheep

Last weekend we stopped by SilverRock Resort in La Quinta, for some quick birding at the clubhouse lake.

In addition to the expected usual species - Ring-necked Duck, American Coot, Mallard, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Snowy Egret, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Verdin, Mourning Dove, Yellow-rumped Warblers - we spotted 7 Canvasback (3 males and 4 females).

We also saw two groups of bighorn sheep.

One group of five males was on the opposite side of the pond from us. (The fifth male was off by himself, closer to the base of the mountains.)

Another group of three crossed the road right in front of us, as we were leaving.

Peninsular Bighorn Sheep (ovis canadensis) live in low elevation areas in our local desert mountain ranges, and populations occur south into Baja California. They were listed as a federally endangered species in 1998.

Bighorn sheep are greatly affected by habitat loss and fragmentation, caused by commercial development within their historic range. Natural factors include predation on an already reduced population, lamb mortality, and disease. In urban areas they additionally encounter dangers such as automobiles, poisonous landscape plants, and swimming pools. And in their native habitat research is being done on the presence of humans and dogs on hiking trails, and how that may disrupt bighorn sheep from historic lambing areas and watering holes.

Although it was exciting to see these sheep so close, they definitely do not belong on golf courses. Grass is not a part of their diet and eating it exposes them to pesticides, fertilizer and other chemicals. They are at high risk from predation as they get further away from their steep mountain escape terrain. And exposure to humans makes them less wary, which is also detrimental to their survival.

The Bighorn Institute in Palm Desert, CA is dedicated to investigating and researching the decline of bighorn sheep populations, both locally and world-wide. In addition to their research and treatment of sick wild sheep, they also maintain a captive-rearing and wild release program that has been extremely important in expanding our local bighorn sheep population.


Bighorn Institute website:
http://www.bighorninstitute.org/index.html

For info about proposed fencing for the bighorn at SilverRock resort:
http://www.bighorninstitute.org/newsletter.html