bighorn

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!”

5/2 Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project Update and News Update

Posted - Charles Miles

Status update for 4/14 to 4/27 (all updates are currently available here). There were no deaths during this period. Five lambs have been observed and another video of the lambs has been released. The update makes some notes about fire regarding management options, fires that have burned in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and it’s impact on habitat – interesting for the perspective and historical details.

The Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club has sent and published letters expressing concern over the Bighorn reintroduction to Arizona Game and Fish and the Coronado National Forest. I thought the questions about habitat that both letters raised were interesting – they note the decision to go ahead with this project even though much of the habitat the sheep were released into was rated ‘poor to fair’ and inability of the project to address development around the mountain which may have been a factor in their disappearance. Also mentioned in the letters are potential impacts to the Wilderness values of the area and a request for information on/evaluation of the impacts on the Bighorn Sheep populations where individuals have been removed for translocation. The letters and some brief reactions are covered in this article from the Arizona Daily Star – in the article a representative from Arizona Game and Fish states that “a decision has not been made yet on whether to proceed with plans to release another 30 bighorn sheep in the Catalinas this fall”.

The annual restrictions on off-trail travel in the Bighorn Management Area ended April 30 – it will be interesting to see if hikers begin to report seeing the sheep and if that has an impact on public opinion, although the temperatures in Tucson at the moment are less than ideal for exploring the Pusch Ridge area…

 

On Thursday, May 1, there was a public meeting about the Recreation Concept Plan for Sabino Canyon – Tucson News Now reports that “Several issues were brought up for discussion, including parking improvements, an eco-friendly shuttle system, new shuttle routes, extended bicycle hours and improved signage along the trails and expanding the current visitor’s center, among many other sggestions.” The article also notes that comments can be emailed to Linda Stamer at [email protected] until 6/1.

 

A time lapse of the April 15 Lunar Eclipse from the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter by Adam Block was featured on Astronomy Picture of the Day.

 

Canceled race leaves many Mt. Lemmon marathon runners without refunds – at least some entrants to the canceled The Mount Lemmon Marathon have not received refunds of their entry fees. A May 2 message on the Mount Lemmon Marathon notes the the event will no longer operate under the current owner and states:

“As of today the MLM staff is working on getting refunds set to send out. We do apologize it has taken so long. The operating costs of this events are very high and there are a number of event costs that we could not recoup. Our goal is to have refunds sent out with in two weeks. Do to the expenses involved, registration cmpany costs, medals, ins. etc. the refund amount will reflect some of the operational losses.”

 

4/30 – Reports from KGUN9 and Tucson New Now of an injured hiker being helped by PCSD and Rural Metro – I did not see any additional details but in the KGUN9 article the picture shows cars parked at Hairpin Turn near the base of the mountain.

4/18 Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project Update

Posted - Charles Miles

Status update for 3/31 to 4/13 (all updates are currently available here).

A few notes:

  • No mortalities
  • 5th Lamb
  • “Females with new lambs are especially sensitive to disturbance” and notes the hiking restrictions and that they are using trailhead postings and volunteers to help remind people about the restrictions
  • A map is included showing the movements of 5 ewes for a previous (unspecified) month with all activity centered around Pusch Peak. 

News Roundup

Posted - Charles Miles
Fifth bighorn lamb spotted in the Catalinas – Tucson News Now – Nice news for the potential herd that a fifth lamb has been born! The Mountain Project (“a feature length documentary film that explores the victories and defeats of western mountain, public land hunts”) posted shopping links to two vinyl die cut decals where “all proceeds from the sale of this decal are being donated to the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society to support the Catalina Restoration Project.” Sabino Canyon Rescue – Pima County Sheriff’s Department Air Rescue – “On April 5th, at approximately 1450 hours, Search and Rescue Deputies from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to a reported stroke victim on Sabino Canyon Trail.” – more information in the description of the video. Rose Canyon Lake reopens – Arizona Daily Star – April 11 – Douglas Kreutz reports that Rose Canyon Lake is open and that in January improvements to the area including work on the trail around the lake were completed earlier in the year. Note that there is currently $10 per vehicle day-use fee and camping fees of $20 per night in Rose Canyon Lake.