Bighorn Sheep

Heavy Rains and Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project Update

Posted - Charles Miles

The Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project Update Status update for 7/7 to 7/20 is now available (all updates are currently available here). Interesting details:

  • 13 of the remaining 14 collared sheep are known to be alive; one of the collars maybe malfunctioning.
  • The lambs were last observed 4-6 weeks ago and are assumed to be doing well.
  • Researchers are planning to use the Cox proportional hazards (PH) model to help them examine the influence of different factors on sheep mortality. Horizontal visibility is mentioned as an important factor in mountain lion predation and a variable that the researchers would like to collect data on – possibly using volunteers.

 

From the latest update: “While the methods for measuring [horizontal visibility] are pretty straightforward, the challenge for our research team will be reaching all the necessary locations, so we may be calling for volunteers to help us in the near future! So if you like to hike in the Catalinas and want to follow in the footsteps of a bighorn sheep or two, there may soon be an opportunity to be involved in our ongoing research!”

 

A number of articles about the summer storm and heavy rains yesterday:

News – Fire Restrictions Lifted, Bighorn Update

Posted - Charles Miles

Coronado National Forest to Lift Fire Restrictions Fires to be Permitted Friday, Visitors Reminded to use Caution, Coronado National Forest and Coronado National Forest lifts all fire restrictions, KVOA – Fire restrictions have been lifted due to rain/moisture levels! KVOA reports that “Arizona has still had nearly 1,000 wildfires this year scorching over 150,000 acres” and, of course, the Coronado National Forest Press Release urges caution.

Bighorn status update for 6/23 to 7/7 (all updates are currently available here) – no mortalities and the 5 lambs reportedly continue to appear healthy. The maps in this report are fascinating – the sheep in these maps are in the very southwest corner of the range with movement in nearly all directions from there – they are certainly crossing a number of popular trails!

News – Fire Prep and Bighorn Update

Posted - Charles Miles

Metro Week: Fire Season Underway, Prep Began Months Ago and Lookouts at Forefront of Fire Spotting – Arizona Public Media – Two articles about the fire season preparations on Mount Lemmon including some interesting details about the Lemmon Rock Lookout.

Bighorn Reintroduction status update for June 9 – June 22, 2014 (updates are currently available here) – no mortalities during this period and the report notes that all 5 of the lambs born this season are alive, healthy and growing. There is a great picture in the report of ram 641 in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness in June and some notes about his movements including that he has covered areas from Sutherland Ridge all the way over to Sabino Canyon!

Bighorn News and Update

Posted - Charles Miles

THE BIGHORN’S DILEMMA BY MELISSA L. SEVIGNY – This is a VERY interesting article with a bit of insight into the advisory board that Arizona Game and Fish created for this project. In addition to recounting many details of the project the article emphasizes the importance of the diverse groups represented on the advisory board working together and presents a hopeful message that this cooperation will be a model for future projects. With any complex project it is nearly impossible to write an article that represents all view points – for me the missing/under-reported piece of the puzzle is the communication/collaboration with the public. Perhaps it is fair to say that the public component is not the main thrust of this piece… But for me – a member of the public with no ‘insider’ access or information to AZGF or any of the advisory board groups – this is critically important when talking about collaboration/cooperation and from my point of view declaring this project – with the closed meetings and decisions to limit information distribution to the public – a successful model is disappointing perhaps even cause for concern.

 

Project status update for 5/26 to 6/8 (all updates are currently available here) – there are several very interesting maps included in this update showing some of the Bighorn population in the southern section of the Santa Catalina Mountains overlapping a number of popular trails – this seems like exciting news for hikers who may have a chance to see the sheep. Note that the document continues to mention the trail restrictions – which are designed to help protect the sheep during the lambing season, but are no longer in effect.

Plans on track to reintroduce 30 more Bighorn sheep, no deaths reported in two months – Explorer News – An article about the possible next planned release.

5/11/2014 Bighorn Reintroduction Project Update and News

Posted - Charles Miles

Bighorn Reintroduction status update for April 28 – May 11, 2014 (all updates are currently available here) – no mortalities this period and the first update that I have seen that has almost no noteworthy content. The one exception may be the statement that “As the lambing season draws to a close it is encouraging to note that the survivability of the known lambs has exceeded expectations”. The yearly prohibition on travel more than 400 feet off of established trails in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area ended April 30.

On 5/1 Stage 1 Fire Restrictions were announced in the Coronado National Forest – including the Santa Catalina Mountains. This seems to happen at some point every year – read the entire document for all the details – the highlights for backpackers –

  • Prohibited: “Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove” is prohibited
  • Allowed: “LPG-fueled stoves, lanterns, or heating devices which meet the fire underwriter’s specifications for safety and can be tlll’ned on/off are a llowed so long as u sed in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materia ls within 3 feet of the device.”

Coronado National Forest to host workshop May 17 regarding draft land management plan and recommended wilderness – “Interested parties are invited to share ideas with personnel from the Coronado on specific areas under consideration for recommendation for wilderness designation.” None of the areas under consideration are adjacent to the Santa Catalina Mountains but this is an important topic for the Coronado National Forest. The Coronado National Forest – Forest Plan Revision page is a good source for information. A Mountain Project thread about the potential inclusion of popular climbining areas in the Dragoon Potential Wilderness Area.

5/10 – Peppersauce Cave offers “wild” exploration: A short report on/introduction to Peppersauce Cave.

5/13 – The SARA Facebook Page reports that “The Pima County Sheriff’s Department requested SARA’s services to assist a lost/injured hiker Monday night at 21:30. The hiker was located at approximately 0100 this morning, high up in Pima Canyon between Pima Spring and Pima Saddle and is currently being escorted out by a team of four. They’re expected out of the field sometime after 8am this morning. A very long night for our volunteers. Good job as always guys and girls!”