Bighorn Sheep

     Bighorn sheep are one of two species of mountain sheep in North America. They range in color from light brown to grayish or dark brown. They have a white rump and lining on the backs of all four legs. Bighorn sheep get their name from the large, curved horns on the males, or rams. They are known for their ability to climb high, steep, rocky mountain areas. Bighorn Sheep can be found mostly in northern and western regions of America, but they are most prominent in California.
     The primary threats to Bighorn Sheep are unregulated and illegal hunting, or poaching, predation by natural enemies, disease, and loss of food from domestic livestock grazing and climate changes.
      Diseases from domestic livestock have devastated their population and the loss of habitat from development have become an increased threat.
      Normally, predators like mountain lions, wolves, bobcats, and coyotes do not pose a threat to Bighorn Sheep, but in areas where sheep population are low, the death of sheep from natural predators can be a risk to larger populations.
     About one-third of California's populations of desert Bighorn Sheep have died out throughout the past century. These losses occurred primarily from lower elevations where there is increases in temperature and decreases in precipitation that have reduced the amount of vegetation they depend on for foraging and water.

How to Help

     Population of Bighorn Sheep hit a low of about 280 in 1995. Since then, their inclusion on the federal endangered species list has increased their population to about 600.
     Much like many endangered species, conservation groups have developed to help save Bighorn Sheep. There are a few known game ranges within Arizona that aid in the prevention of their endangerment. The link provided is an example of one of many conservation game ranges.
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

Bighorn Sheep
Photographed by Ron Niebrugge

American Bison

    

The American Bison is the symbol of the great plains. Vast herds migrated from Canada to Mexico. From a population that ranged in the millions, American Bison dwindled to near extinction driven by American settlers.
Fortunately, the bison population has recovered to a total of 9000 due to conservation efforts by Canadian conservationists, but they still need help to survive.
        The bison are also threatened by two main diseases. One, Tuberculosis, an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of nodules in the tissues, especially the lungs, and Anthrax, a bacterial disease of sheep and cattle, typically affecting the skin and lungs which cause severe skin ulceration or a form of pneumonia. Both of these have become prominent in bison herds.

How to Help:

       People can help in their preservation by adopting bison on websites such as Defenders of Wildlife or by donating toward the purchase of prairie land on websites like the American Prairie Foundation.

American Bison

Photographed by Phillip Colla

Save the Wildlife

    30 to 50 percent of all species are headed toward extinction by mid-century, and 99% of all threatened species are at risk from human activity, such as destroying their habitats for our recreational desires, introducing exotic species to new and profound locations where they will not thrive, and therefore suffer, and global warming; a major contributor to those living in regions near Alaska and Canada.
    As a wildlife enthusiast, I have made an effort to divert attention toward threatened and endangered animals. I want to educate others about the endangered animals living within the North American boundaries and explain how we can help them live in peace as we do every day.

Gray Wolves

Photographed by Joel Sartore