February 2026
- Bighorn Institute
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Annual Membership Meeting
Bighorn Institute’s Annual Membership Meeting took place February 7th at the Institute and we had a great group of members join us! We elected the Board of Directors and spoke about our accomplishments in 2025 and our future plans for 2026. Thank you to everyone that was able to join us!
Breakfast with the Bighorn
On Saturday, March 7th, we will be hosting our fifth annual Breakfast with the Bighorn fundraiser at the Institute! This casual morning mixer will include a catered breakfast and will be a great time to mingle with fellow members and hopefully, see the sheep! Space is limited, but we still have room so come join us and bring an auction item valued at $100 or more. To RSVP or for more information, please call us at 760-346-7334 or email us at bi@bighorninstitute.org.
Lambing Season Going Strong
We documented many new lambs this month in all three of our study herds and a number of the collared ewes have given birth. There are now around a dozen lambs in the San Jacinto Mountains herd near Palm Springs and the central Santa Rosa Mountains herd near La Quinta. We’ve seen around 20 lambs in the northern Santa Rosa Mountains herd near Palm Desert/Rancho Mirage. We expect to see more lambs soon and are doing our best to keep up without missing any. Please let us know if you see lambs when you’re out hiking since most of the ewes are unmarked. You can call 760-346-7334 or email us at bi@bighorninstitute.org. However, please don’t post on social media where you see lambs as it often attracts others and too many people can be stressful to the ewes with their newborns.
Palm Hills “Pop-up”
In early February, we participated in an educational “pop-up” (a short-term booth with educational materials) with a number of groups including Oswit Land Trust (OLT), Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Coachella Valley Conservation Commission (CVCC), Friends of the Desert Mountains, the Bureau of Land Management, The Living Desert and Palm Springs Search and Rescue at Palm Hills to educate trail users that dogs are not allowed on the trails there for the sake of the bighorn sheep. This area historically was private land and unmanaged with much free-play, but is now owned by OLT and CVCC. Bighorn sheep have been using this area much more in recent years, particularly ewes and lambs, so it’s important to properly manage these lands. While there are still recreational opportunities on these trails, it must be balanced with the needs and protection of the endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep. Education is important as trail users here learn to navigate the rules that have been established in recent years with the new land ownership. Overall, it was a positive experience and dog owners were given alternative trails to hike nearby in Rancho Mirage.
Education and Outreach
In early February, we gave a bighorn sheep presentation at the Mizell Center in Palm Springs for Oswit Land Trust’s Speaker Series. It was well-attended, which was great considering we spoke for this group last year as well. Many new people attended, asked great questions and wanted to get involved in the Institute’s work to protect and conserve our local bighorn sheep. It was a great opportunity to connect with the community.
Member Hike
Our February hike was a success; we saw 8 sheep fairly close making for a great outing. Our last Member Hike of the season will be on Wednesday, March 18th and will be moderately strenuous (up to 1,000 ft elevation gain). Space is limited, no dogs, and you must RSVP for this first come first served hike. To sign up or for more information, please call us at 760-346-7334 or email us at bi@bighorninstitute.org.
2026 Spring Fling
Our 2026 Spring Fling fundraiser will be held on Friday, April 10th at Lost Creek Canyon Ranch in Whitewater and you don’t want to miss this amazing event! Enjoy a delicious BBQ, gorgeous views, ranch activities and more! Invitations will be mailed out soon so mark your calendars and we hope to see you there!
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