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Mexican Bighorn Sheep Join Herd At Red Rock Wildlife Area

Mexican Bighorn Sheep Join Herd At Red Rock Wildlife Area

New Mexico Game and Fish

LORDSBURG , NM--(Ammoland.com)- After months of quarantine, desert bighorn sheep from Mexico were successfully released to join the existing herd at the Red Rock Wildlife Area.

The 10 rams will supply new genes to a herd that began at Red Rock in the 1970s.

The newly introduced rams appear to be in good shape and the Department of Game and Fish is excited to see the outcome of years of collaborative efforts and wildlife roundups come to fruition with the release of these young sheep.

“It’s nice to see that they all survived and they’re doing really well,” bighorn sheep biologist Elise Goldstein said.

“They’re feisty and I think they’re going to be some good sturdy rams to add to the stock.”

The state of New Mexico received the rams in exchange for pronghorn antelope that were moved to three wildlife management areas in Mexico over the last two years.

Desert bighorn sheep propagation began with just five ewes from Mexico and one ram from the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge on the White Sands Missile Range in 1972.

The Red Rock herd’s offspring has helped restore desert bighorns across New Mexico’s desert mountain ranges. Over the next decade, offspring from the Mexican rams will be used to augment desert bighorn populations across the state.

In 1980, desert bighorn sheep were listed as a state endangered species when the population was estimated at fewer than 70. Today, through management efforts including releases, selective predator control and support from numerous wildlife conservation groups, the population estimate is more than 565. This number exceeds delisting criteria as defined by the recovery plan for the species and desert bighorns are currently being reviewed as candidates for delisting.

The Department will conduct public hearings Sept. 6 regarding the recommendation to delist desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) from the New Mexico threatened and endangered species list, pursuant to the Wildlife Conservation Act, Sections 17-2-37 through 17-2-46, NMSA 1978. The meetings:

• 6 p.m. Sept. 6, Truth or Consequences, Civic Center Chambers, 400 W. 4th St.
• 6 p.m. Sept. 6, Deming, Special Events Center, 2300 E. Pine St.

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Desert Sheep From Mexico Arrive At Red Rock Wildlife Area

Desert Sheep From Mexico Arrive At Red Rock Wildlife Area

New Mexico Game and Fish

LORDSBURG, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Desert bighorn sheep destined for a captive breeding program at the Red Rock Wildlife Area north of here arrived Saturday, Feb. 26, after more than two months of quarantine in Mexico.

The 10 young rams will provide new genes to a herd that was started at Red Rock in the 1970s.

The rams were provided to the state of New Mexico in exchange for pronghorn antelope that were moved to three wildlife management areas in Mexico during the last two winters.

The state of New Mexico started cooperative wildlife management programs with Mexican wildlife authorities in the 1970s. In 1972, desert bighorn sheep propagation at Red Rock began with five ewes from Mexico, and one ram from the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge on White Sands Missile Range.

Offspring from the Red Rock herd have helped rebuild desert bighorn across New Mexico’s desert mountain ranges. The species once was considered endangered in the state, but after decades of releases, selective predator control, and the support of numerous wildlife conservation groups the animals are candidates for delisting under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

“These rams from Mexico are 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 years old,” said Darrel Weybright, big-game project leader for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. “The idea is that once these rams get a little older, we can take out all the existing Red Rock rams and allow the Mexican rams to do the breeding.”

Weybright said the Red Rock sheep need more genetic diversity. With the bulk of the sheep at Red Rock being from the San Andres, over the next decade offspring from the captive herd will be used to augment desert bighorn populations across New Mexico.

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