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Bureau of Land Management Research Needs
TITLE:
Prior Mountain Big Horn Sheep Lamb
Recruitment Research
SUBMITTING BUREAU: Bureau of Land Management
Originating Office: Montana State Office
DATE SUBMITTED: May 21, 1996
BIN NUMBER: BLM08CR98
BRD REGION: Central
DESCRIPTION OF NEED: Bighorn sheep populations considered healthy and growing in size are susceptible to reductions in populations growth and die-offs without apparent, definite cause. Bighorn sheep were re-established approximately 20 years ago on the Pryor Mountains in Montana. The population exhibited what Coates and Schemnitz (1989) described as exponential growth through 1989. The population peaked in 1994 and recruitment declined from approximately 20 lambs; 100 ewes to <10 lambs; 100 ewes in 1995 and 1996. Young of the year survive through the summer months, but do not live through the late fall and winter months (personal observations). There is presently a large base of information being compiled by Montana State University and Colorado State University that would provide valuable species-habitat information.
Questions:
Objective:
These objectives can be addressed by following young of the year in the population using radio transmitters to determine causes of death, sampling the vegetation to determine nutritional availability, sampling nutritional use via fecal analysis, and sampling the individuals themselves for disease. These results should be applicable to other low elevation big horn sheep herds, such as those found in southern Wyoming and the Missouri Breaks area of Montana.
MANAGEMENT PROBLEM WITH NEED:
BUREAU CONTACT: Jay Parks, Robert E. Kissel Jr., BLM Billings Resource Area, 810 East Main Street, Billings, MT 59105, (406) 238-1549 Bozeman, MT 59717
Lynn R. Irby, Department of Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, (406) 994-3032
BRD PRIMARY CENTER: MESC
BRD CENTER CONTACT: Francis Singer
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATION (FY99): Francis Singer and Kate Schoenecker (BRD, MESC) prepared a 3-year proposal to the NPS-BRD-NRPP program and were awarded $210,000 for the project entitled, "Pryor Mountain Bighorn Sheep Lam Recruitment Research" to specifically address BLM needs. The project will involve radio collaring bighorn sheep, studies of survival rates, determination of causes of mortality, an assessment of the reasons for the decline, evaluation of experiments to improve range conditions (prescribed burning, new water holes, placement of trails) for both bighorn sheep and wild horses.
DATE SUBMITTED TO REGIONAL OFFICE: 12-14-98
PREPARED BY: Francis Singer, MESC
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATION (FY98): Both the NPS and BLM contacted F. Singer with concerns about the recent decline in the bighorn sheep population. Of concern is whether the decline is in some way due to the high number of horses, to a disease pathogen, or to mountain lion predation. Dr. Dunbar of the BRD Wisconsin Lab submitted a proposal to look into the question, and BRD-MESC is exploring the possibility of developing a five-year strategic plan to aid in the investigation.
DATE SUBMITTED TO REGIONAL OFFICE: October 31, 1997
PREPARED BY: Francis Singer, Southern Rocky Mountain Ecosystems Section, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins (970-491-7056); E-mail frank_singer@usgs.gov
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/98blm-8.htm
Page Contact Information:
tlwilliams@usgs.gov
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