BI Gets Conservation Award
On December 1, 2007, the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) State Director, Mike Pool, along with BLM Desert District
Manager, Steve Borchard, and BLM Palm Springs Manager, John Kalish,
recognized Bighorn Institute and Executive Director, Jim DeForge, for
25 years of outstanding conservation work for the endangered
Peninsular bighorn sheep.
The BLM managers attended a Board meeting to present
the award and had many wonderful things to say about the
Institute’s efforts on behalf of the sheep. Board members were
touched by the award and the recognition of the Institute’s
recovery efforts for the species. The Institute has had an incredible
partnership with the BLM since 1985, when we acquired the land on
which our current facilities reside. Initially, the land was leased
from the BLM, but in 1989, the Institute purchased the land. Today,
the Institute continues to work in partnership with the Bureau on
bighorn-related issues.
BLM State Director, Mike Pool (2nd
from left), presents award to
Jim DeForge (farthest left) and BI
board members.
Two of a Kind by Aimee Byard
On March 4, 2008, I checked on one of the many
pregnant, radio-collared ewes in the northern Santa Rosa Mountains.
February through April is the peak of lambing season, which extends
from January through June for desert bighorn. We had not observed any
lambs yet in this part of the range and were beginning to get a bit impatient.
I found my “target” ewe for that day isolated away from other bighorn, bedded high slope in steep terrain. These were good signs that she may have given birth. The ewe stayed bedded throughout the observation so it was impossible to determine whether or not she had a lamb with her. After maneuvering to a higher location, I was able to see some of the area behind the ewe and, sure enough, there was a lamb bedded behind her! I was thrilled to document the first 2008 lamb in the northern Santa Rosa Mountains. Mother and young seemed content so I set off to look for other sheep.
After a few hours in the field it was time to head out. The hike back to the jeep required me going by the area that the ewe and lamb were previously observed. Surprisingly, they were still bedded in the exact same spot as they were three hours prior. Typically, when a ewe has a newborn lamb she will remain around the area she gave birth until the lamb is capable of keeping up with her, which usually takes a few days or more. This ewe and lamb being in the same area indicated that the lamb was very young. However, as I approached the ewe, she remained bedded. This seemed quite unusual because often when a ewe has a very young lamb she will run off and leave her lamb “stashed,” or hidden, in order to divert the attention of a predator. When the gap between us was a mere 150 meters, the ewe finally stood up and scampered up-slope a short distance followed immediately by, not one, but two lambs! While the ewe focused on me, the two lambs stood beneath their mother, then each of them nursed briefly.
It was incredible that we were able to record this incident since bighorn ewes rarely give birth to twins and even fewer cases are well documented. In the Institute’s captive herd we have had two sets of twins born over the past 25 years. Bighorn ewes often “babysit” lambs other than their own, which can make it difficult to know if a ewe has actually given birth to twins. With the young age of these lambs, (only a day or two old), both of them suckling from the ewe, and no other bighorn sheep in the vicinity, there was no doubt that these two lambs were twins. Just when you think you know all about these amazing animals’ behavior and abilities, they humble you with the marvel of twins. We look forward to keeping track of these special little ones as they continue to grow.
Ewe
with twins in tow.
COPYRIGHT 2008, BIGHORN INSTITUTE