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James Workman Middle School |
Desert Bighorn Sheep |
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In the nineteenth
century, bighorn sheep in North America were estimated to a number
between 1.5 and 2 million, but now less than 70,000
remain alive. In the late 1800's, hunting and diseases were introduced
by domestic livestock. Habitat loss
and fragmentation are recognized
as the most significant threats facing bighorn sheep. Natural
predation from mountain lions, coyotes and bobcats also pose a risk
to bighorn populations that have dwindled to low numbers.
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| The Bighorn sheep rams (males)
usually live 9-12 years, and ewes (females) usually live 10-14 years.
Adult bighorn rams weigh between 150-200 pounds and ewes weigh between
100-125 pounds. The diet of bighorn sheep, is according to the habitat and season. They eat grass shrubs, and forbs. Some favorite shrubs for desert bighorn sheep are acacia or catclaw, encelia, sweetbush, and krameria. Bighorn sheep are opportunistic feeders that adapt their diet to the forage available. |
| The natural predators of bighorn sheep are mountain lions, wolves, bobcats, coyotes and golden eagles. Eagles have been known to prey upon lambs, but they are unable to kill adult bighorn. Predation is usually not a problem for healthy bighorn populations; however, predation can limit recovery and potentially drive a population to extinction. |
| The breeding season for the bighorn sheep is from August-November. At this time that rams clash heads to fight for dominance. In each band of rams there is a dominance order, and the higher ranking rams do most of the breeding. Bighorn sheep have an approximate 6 month gestation period. Ewes give birth to only one lamb per year, but there are sometimes twins.When the lamb is born, the ewe licks her baby's wet, woolly, light brown coat until it's dry. They gently touch each others nose to learn their scents. |
| Pneumonia has been effecting the Peninsular bighorn sheep and has killed two more sheep and many scientist say they fear an epidemic is growing that could wipe out the bighorn sheep.Also many sheep have been found in the northern Santa Rosa Mountains. That makes about seven deaths in three weeks. Pneumonia is able to kill the whole generation of sheep. Nobody knows for sure how the sheep are getting pneumonia. We don't know whether pneumonia was spread by insect or sheep to sheep. |
| Click here to learn more about these amazing animals!! |
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BLM Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Mtns.
By: Gisel M, Janet T, Jennifer S.