The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-06-12
Biqhorn Sheep
Making Lost Stond
For Existence

day although these mountain Climb
ers once flourished in most noun
tain ranges of the West, according
to recent Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice report to Secretary of the In
terror Harold L. Ickes.
The bighorn sneep is making
last stand for existence IN II states,
Service officials said. and Federal,
State. and private conservation
agencies are bending every effort
to save this big game animal from
extinction.
In the latest Fish and Wildlife
Service big game inventory it was
estimated that in 1889 there were
only some $3.50 Rocky Mountain
bighorns and $3.50 desert bighorns
in the country.
Some $500 Rocky Mountain big
horns were in Wyoming; 1900 in
Colorado; loo in Idaho, 1000 in
Montana, $50 in California: ESQ in
Utah: 80 in Oregon; 20 in Washing
ton, and 3 in New Mexico. The des-
ert bighorn population icluded 1000
in California: 300 in Arizona, LOO
in Nevada, ESQ in New Mexico, and
$50 in Texas.
In Alaska il is estimated that
there are 1000 Dali, or white noun
tain sheep, but some people con-
slider the white sheep not as blghorn
sheep but different type of ami
NAL :
Concentrate on Saving Remnant
Herds
Within the past few years, ag-
gressive action has been taken to
preserve the last of the bighorns.
The Fish and Wildlife Service ad-
ministers four national wildlife
refugees primarily for the protec-
ton of Rocky Mountain and desert
bighorns.
The Kofa and Cabeza Prieta
Game Ranges in Arizona now have
an estimated population Of $50 big
horns. The Desert Game Range in
Nevada reported between 325 and
$50 bighorns in July 1910 The San
Andres Refuge in New Mexico was
recently established for the protec-
ton of Mexican bighorn sheep.
Though the Boulder Canyon Nation
al Wildlife Refuge in Nevada and
Arizona is primarily a waterfowl
area. it has more than $50 big
horns
In an attempt TO reintroduce the
bighorn to its former ranges, and
also to scatter the population SO that
disease. adverse weather, or other
disastrous factors cannot wipe out
the entire stock. the Service has
established small herds of Rocky
Mountain sheep on the National
Bison Range in Montana, to which
10 bighorns were transplanted, and
on the Hart Mountain National
Wildlife Refuge in Oregon where
% bighorns were released few
years ago
The bighorn is also protected on
other federal areas.
Cooperate in Bighorn Study
So serious has the decline of the
Rocky Mountain bighorn population
become that the State game depart
ments in Wyoming. Idaho, and Col
orado have undertaken fact-find-
ing survey of the situation as tri-
State, Pittman-Robertson project tc
determine causes for the reduction
in highorn numbers
The National Park Service. For.
est Service, University Of Wyoming
Colorado State College, and the
Fish and Wildlife Service are coop.
Grating in this study.
Authorities attribute the reduc.
ton Of the bighorn sheep population
to various factors including over
shooting by hunters seeking tro
phies, and by poachers looking fol-
food. predators, disease, and com
petition from other big game ami
mails driven into the bighorn sheer
range by settlers.
Whether the bighorn sheep will
escape extinction cannot be fore
told. Present studies indicate tina
there is a possibility that the big
horn can recover under favorable
circumstances, but big-game au
thorities refuse to place themselve
out ION a scientific limb" by posi-
lively predicting that the ANNA
will survive.
The bighorn sheep is split up int
many geographical races and per
haps two or three species. There ar
at least 10 recognized forms of big
horns in America, of which one
formerly occurring in the Badland
of South Dakota and nearby areas
annarantlU lc extinct
Known scientifically as Owls can
adensis, the various forms of big
horn sheep are found from tn
coastal mountains Of Alaska to Mex
leo. The animal is not truly mi
gratory, its bands ranging in re
stricted areas. Its feeding routes
bedding grounds, and all-round hv
ing quarters are invariably in rough
precipitous country, often on or nea
mountain tops.
Bighorns have number of pop
ular names: Mountain sheep, BROW
bighorn, Rocky Mountain bighorr
American ibex, wild sheep, an,
sheep deer. The bighorn is large
than the domestic sheep and at
years weighs about ITO pounds an
at 6 years, when 1t is adult, weigh
on the average Of 800 pounds.
Living on top and clamberlp