LIVING INCALIFORNIA

BIGHORN SHEEPHABITAT

Co-existing withWild Sheep

in the South Okanagan

Bighorns Then and Now

The California Bighorn Sheep you seethrough the window of your home or asyou drive through the South Okanaganwere once distributed widely throughoutthe dry grasslands and rugged terrain ofthe Southern Interior. Unfortunately, onlysmall populations of wild sheep now occurwithin this historical range. In BritishColumbia, bighorn sheep are considereda species of special concern due tohabitat loss and degradation, as well assensitivity to human activities anddisturbances.

Since a considerable amount ofsummer and winter habitat occurs on private land, landowners can

play a vital role in helping to ensurethe continued survival of this

magnificent species.

Sharing Habitat with Wild Sheep

If you live on the east side of theOkanagan Valley, you are probablyliving in an area which is traditionalhabitat for bighorn sheep. In order tosurvive, sheep have a number ofspecific requirements including:

• South to southwest-facing grassyslopes for winter forage

• Summer forage at higher elevations• Traditional breeding areas• Nearby steep escape terrain for

lambing and avoiding predators• Movement corridors• Water sources• Mineral licks• Limited disturbance from humans

and dogsphot

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photo: Laure Neish

photo: Lisa Scott

Help monitor bighorn sheep and other species at riskby reporting sightings to:1-866-699-WILD (9453)

Produced by: The South Okanagan-Similkameen

Stewardship Program

Supported by:

To report sick or dead sheep, call:Ministry of Environment

(250) 490-8200

For more information on howyou can help, contact:

SOS Stewardship Program#201 - 262 Main StreetPenticton, BC V2A 5B2

(250) 492-0173

© 2006 SOS Stewardship ProgramPrinted in Canada on 100% recycled paper

DESIGN: SPITFIRE DESIGN

LANDOWNERS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN ENSURING THE SURVIVAL OF BIGHORN SHEEP

Stresses on the Population

California Bighorn Sheep have lost habitatto urban expansion and agriculturaldevelopment, while forest ingrowth andinvasive plants have decreased the qualityof remaining rangeland. Sheep feed onand use traditional areas and do not adaptwell when displaced. Many years of firesuppression have resulted in unnaturallydense forests that reduce range further andrestrict the sight lines needed by the sheepto detect and avoid predators.

Bighorns are susceptible to diseases,particularly when nutrition is poor anddisturbances from human activities, dogs,or other factors, are prolonged andfrequent. Wild sheep are very susceptibleto diseases commonly carried by domesticsheep and goats. Research has shownthat contact is often followed by diseasefatal to the bighorns.

In the winter of 1999-2000, the SouthOkanagan herd suffereda major die-off frombacterial pneumonia.This reduced thepopulation by 60-75%. There was evidencethat respiratory disease was transmittedfrom domestic sheep in the early stages ofthe die-off. In response, the bighorn sheeprecovery plan recommended keeping thetwo species separate to avoid futuredisease episodes.

What Is Being Done?

Inventory, research, sheep transplants, andthe purchase and management ofimportant sheep habitat have all been partof the cooperative effort* to ensure thefuture of this bighorn population. The SouthOkanagan Bighorn Sheep Advisory Groupwas initiated to help guide the recoveryefforts.

Current activities include:• Researching health, survival, and

population dynamics• Stewardship initiatives such as habitat

conservation with landowners • Thinning of forests and prescribed fires• Fencing to reduce highway mortality• Lessening the risk of disease transfer

from domestic sheep and goats (concernand cooperation from domesticproducers have supported this effort).

* Includes the Ministry of Environment, Université deSherbrooke, South Okanagan California Bighorn SheepRecovery Project, local experts, First Nations, conservationorganizations, sportsmen, stakeholders and privatelandowners.

How Can You Help?

Today, we see strongevidence that our big-horns are well on the roadto recovery but they stillneed our help.

• Do not raise domestic sheep or goats as petsor livestock within bighorn sheep range.

• Keep dogs under control, to prevent theharassment or killing of sheep and otherwildlife.

• Enjoy sheep from a distance by usingbinoculars.

• Be extremely cautious around rams during therutting season in November, at which time theyare aggressive and may charge you.

• Avoid lambing areas from April to late June, toreduce stress on lambs and ewes.

• Drive slowly when sheep are near roadways.• Work with your neighbours to retain natural

movement corridors.• Retain areas of natural habitat on your land,

including ponds and springs.• Plant native species such as bunchgrasses,

antelope-brush, sagebrush, saskatoon andmock orange that provide food for sheep.

• Learn about options for invasive plantmanagement.

• Keep grasslands undisturbed by walking ordriving only on established roads or trails.

• Find out more about the benefits of prescribedfires for enhancing bighorn habitat and forpublic safety.

Associated Species at Risk

A number of other wildlife speciesoccurring within sheep habitat are at risk.Protecting habitat for bighorn sheep willalso benefit these species:

Photos: Canyon Wren and White Headed

Woodpecker by Steve Cannings;

Pallid Bat by Mark Brigham;

Badger by Bill Harper;

Rubber Boa by Jared Hobbs

Help spread the word about how to live in harmony with

bighorn sheep

photo: Peter Stockdale

photo: Laure Neish