Thinhorn Sheep: Conservation Challenges & Management Strategies

for the 21st Century

Mike Cox WAFWA WSWG Chair

Nevada Dept. of Wildlife

Clay Brewer Wild Sheep Foundation

AuthorsDarren Bruning & Rebecca Schwanke (Retired) – Alaska Dept. Fish & GameBill Jex & Helen Schwantje – British Columbia Ministry of Forest,

Lands & Natural Resource OperationsJeremy Ayotte – British Columbia Sheep Separation ProgramTroy Hegel – Yukon Dept. of EnvironmentNicholas Larter – Northwest Territories Dept. of Environment & Natural

ResourcesVernon Bleich – California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (Retired)Clay Brewer & Matthew Wagner – Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.

Thinhorn Sheep: Conservation Challenges & Management Strategies

for the 21st Century

Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

WAFWA Wild Sheep Working GroupPurpose Statement

• To identify priority topics and management challenges to wild sheep in the western U.S. and Canada

• To collaboratively develop solutions to those challenges

• To foster strong relationships between wild sheep agencies and wild sheep advocates.

Wild Sheep Working Group Priorities - 2008

Topic AK AB AZ BC CA CO ID MT NE NV NM ND OR SD TX UT WA WY YK Ranking

1 WS Habitat Quality & Quantity (limited by vegetative succession, invasive plants, fragmentation, water availability)

5 1 2 1 1 2 5 2 2 2 3 2 3 4 5 5 3 1 5 2

2 Wild or Feral Animal Grazing Competition Livestock (feral horse, mtn goat, elk, exotics) on WS Habitats

7 6 6 7 4 5 4 7 4 3 2 6 7 2 1 7 7 3 4 3

3 Predation on WS 3 2 1 3 5 6 7 6 7 4 1 3 2 3 2 4 6 6 6 4

4 Disease Issues with WS (primarily involving contact w/ Domestic Sheep and/or Domestic Goats)

2 7 5 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 4 1 1 2 2 1

5 Viability, Connectivity, and management (barriers. transplant history & protocol, subspecies mixing) of WS Populations

6 4 3 5 3 3 2 4 5 5 4 4 5 5 6 2 2 4 7 6

6 Adequacy of Funding and Personnel for WS Management

1 5 7 6 6 7 6 5 3 7 7 7 4 6 3 6 5 5 3 5

7 Human Footprint on WS Ranges (infrastructure, development, recreational, OHV, and aircraft effects)

4 3 4 2 7 4 3 3 6 6 6 5 6 7 7 3 4 7 1 7

WSWG MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES - 2008

Wild Sheep Working Group Predation - 2008

Bighorn Sheep: Conservation Challenges & Management Strategies

for the 21st Century

Thinhorn Sheep: Conservation Challenges & Management Strategies

for the 21st Century

HABITAT

• Habitat Quality and Quantity • Human Encroachment

Competition

• Competition from other native herbivores and unintended consequences associated with an altered prey base and predators

Diseases and Parasites

Predation

Population Management

Organizational Challenges

• Funding and Personnel Resources• Management Restrictions

Climate Change

Thinhorn Sheep Conservation Challenges

What can the Wild Sheep Working Group do for Thinhorn Sheep Jurisdictions?

• Clearinghouse of information: • what works, what doesn’t• share data on management actions and applied research

• Improve collective learning on best management practices for thinhorn sheep through greater communication and networking

• Promote the use of the combined resources from all jurisdictions to strengthen the power of inference in finding solutions to thinhorn sheep challenges

Thinhorn Sheep: Conservation Challenges & Management Strategies

for the 21st Century

Mike Cox WAFWA WSWG Chair

Nevada Dept. of Wildlife

Clay Brewer Wild Sheep Foundation