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Bighorn Relocation from Baxter/Sawmill to Cathedral Range
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 5:35 pm
by maverick
Inyo NF:
Five Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep rams were released into the Cathedral Range last week. These rams were moved from the Baxter and Sawmill Herds in the U.S. Forest Service - Inyo National Forest with the goal of increasing the reproductive capacity of Yosemite's Cathedral Herd. This addition brings the total number of bighorns in the Cathedral Herd to 18 and increases the overall number of bighorns in the Yosemite area (Northern Recovery Unit) to an estimated 100 bighorn sheep. The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is an endangered subspecies and boosting productivity and survivorship are important goals for recovering the population. This program is funded in part by Yosemite Conservancy and is a partnership between the National Park Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (lead agency this project), and many other organizations. To learn more about Yosemite's Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep program, visit
https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/sheep.htm
Re: Bighorn Relocation from Baxter/Sawmill to Cathedral Rang
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 11:15 am
by balzaccom
Cool.
We had a trip planned for that area this year, but had to cancel because I got drafted into a speech.
Next year for sure....
Re: Bighorn Relocation from Baxter/Sawmill to Cathedral Rang
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 11:44 am
by markskor
Checking..."Bighorn sheep are named for the large, curved horns borne by the rams (males). Ewes (females) also have horns, but they are shorter with less curvature."
Article states that 5 rams were released; no mention of any ewes...??
(I could be wrong but)... only males added?
For want of a better term....a sausage fest?
Re: Bighorn Relocation from Baxter/Sawmill to Cathedral Rang
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 12:57 pm
by rlown
A fitting salute this year to the bighorn sheep:
2016WardenStamp.jpg
more info at
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Warden-Stamp
They are $5.00 per decal with the proceeds going to special equipment, training and the K-9 force for Game wardens, and they look great on either a bear can or the truck's back window.
Re: Bighorn Relocation from Baxter/Sawmill to Cathedral Rang
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 1:47 pm
by maverick
Has anyone seen this Cathedral Herd they are referring to and if yes where? Which part of the Cathedral Range?
Re: Bighorn Relocation from Baxter/Sawmill to Cathedral Rang
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 2:33 pm
by rlown
Some images I found:
https://www.google.com/search?q=cathedr ... T2zV03M%3A
Notice in the pic that the herd looks to be mostly ewes. That would explain only moving rams into the area. Clicking on the pic will take you to the Yosemite conservancy site with further details.
Re: Bighorn Relocation from Baxter/Sawmill to Cathedral Rang
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 10:01 pm
by Rockyroad
maverick wrote:Has anyone seen this Cathedral Herd they are referring to and if yes where? Which part of the Cathedral Range?
I'm not sure if these rams were part of the Cathedral Herd. We saw them in 2014 as we were going up the south side of Koip Peak Pass, which isn't too far away from the Cathedral Range.
Re: Bighorn Relocation from Baxter/Sawmill to Cathedral Rang
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 8:53 am
by Gazelle
Saw them on the way to the meetup this yearon the ridge between Parsons and Fletcher scared the heck out of me! The 1 that scared me had a radio collar on but saw probably 10 or more.
Kristine
Re: Bighorn Relocation from Baxter/Sawmill to Cathedral Rang
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 12:48 pm
by maverick
I'm not sure if these rams were part of the Cathedral Herd. We saw them in 2014 as we were going up the south side of Koip Peak Pass, which isn't too far away from the Cathedral Range.
Yeap, that is probably the herd in question, Koip falls right into the middle of the large cluster of gps tracks.
Re: Bighorn Relocation from Baxter/Sawmill to Cathedral Rang
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 2:08 pm
by longri
It looks to me like the Cathedral Range group is distinct from the two larger, and older, clusters to the east.
And (according to the NPS) the reintroduction in the Cathedral Range occurred in 2015.
So cool that they're there. I have yet to see them in the wild. I hope they do well.