March 2021
3rd Annual Spring Fling Fundraiser
Spring has sprung, vaccinations are underway so why not celebrate with us at our 3rd Annual Spring Fling fundraiser?! Join us Sunday, April 25th from 5pm-7pm at Stone Eagle Golf Club for amazing views, dinner and a live auction! Tickets are $150/person or $300/couple. Would you consider being a sponsor? Party Sponsorship is $1,000 and includes 2 tickets to the Spring Fling and advertising at dinner and on our website. Invitations have been mailed. For more information or to buy tickets, visit our website www.bighorninstitute.org/fundraisers or give us a call at 760-346-7334.
Lambs
Lambing season is in full-swing, but this year looks like it may be a challenging one for the sheep with less than an inch of rain so far. There are lots of lambs running around, but many of them are now 2 months of age, which is when they start becoming vulnerable to disease. They get their mother’s immune system when they’re born, but by two months begin building their own immune system. We’ve already seen some sick lambs throughout the range and at least one has perished and had contagious ecthyma (CE) or sore mouth. This disease is contagious to people too and manifests itself as Orf in humans. If you see sick lambs (e.g., coughing, runny nose, sores on mouth), please give us a call 760-346-7334. If you can take photos from a distance, that’s helpful as well. We’re continuing to see many lambs, which is encouraging and time will tell how they fare.
Bighorn Hit on Hwy 74
The end of March proved fatal for bighorn sheep around Hwy 74 with two rams hit by cars two days in a row and many other bighorn sheep observed crossing the highway. With the bighorn population on the rise in this area, there have been more sheep crossing Hwy 74. Caltrans has installed bighorn crossing signs including two with flashing beacons to alert motorists to look for sheep. Please be careful driving this treacherous road. The sheep are active during the day and may cross the road at any time.
BI Resale Store
Bighorn Institute’s Resale Store is now open and so far, a rousing success! The Antique Galleries of Palm Springs has set aside vendor space for Bighorn Institute to have a mini-resale store. Tell your family, friends and neighbors we’re looking to keep this cabinet filled with the things they no longer need or want. We would like smaller, high-quality items such as: jewelry, coins, bullion, pen sets, small clocks and watches, crystal, statuary and decorative items, antiques and collectibles, etc. All profits benefit the bighorn AND all donations are tax-deductible! You can take your items directly to Antique Galleries of Palm Springs (505 E. Industrial Place, just south of downtown off Sunny Dunes) and ask for Mike or Thomas. If you can’t take your items in, give us a call and we can help collect them 760-346-7334. Thank you!
Virtual Tour de Palm Springs a Success
The Tour de Palm Springs was virtual this year and took place throughout the month of February. Bighorn Institute was one of the charities for which this event raised funds and YOU have generously raised more money each year we’ve participated! THANK YOU to all of the walkers and bike riders that participated on our behalf and those who purchased raffle tickets! YOU are making a difference!
Adopt-a-Bighorn
Need a unique gift or just want to support the sheep? You can Adopt-a-Bighorn. Lambs are $100 and a ewe or ram is $150 each. Adoptions include a certificate, a 4x6 color photograph of your sheep, a bighorn sheep fact sheet, a year’s subscription to our e-newsletter, and a year’s membership with the Institute. All adoptions are 100% tax-deductible! Visit our website to adopt-a-bighorn: https://www.bighorninstitute.org/adopt-a-bighorn
Bighorn Sheep Canvas Prints
Want a beautiful bighorn sheep canvas print?! Get yours now for just $100 plus shipping (or pick up at BI for no additional cost). To order a 16” x 20” print, call the office 760-346-7334 or email us at: bi@bighorninstitute.org. Your choices are pictured. Saw a different photo in a monthly update or on our website you’d like? Give us a call and we’ll see if we can print the photo of your choice. Please allow for two weeks for processing plus shipping.
Recent Articles:
Lone bighorn sheep struck by vehicle near Palm Desert, second ram killed in as many days
California tries to move cougars who won’t stop eating rare bighorn sheep