Go Big! Central CO Bighorn Sheep Survey.
Engaging communities in recording observations of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, domestic sheep, and domestic goats.
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What is the Go Big! Central CO Bighorn Sheep Survey?
The Central Colorado Bighorn Sheep Survey engages communities in recording observations of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, domestic sheep, and domestic goats in Central Colorado. The data collected by volunteers participating in the project will inform conservation strategies for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in Central Colorado.
Bighorn sheep are highly susceptible to contracting respiratory disease (with experiments indicating up to a 90% mortality rate within two months of exposure) from domestic sheep and goats. Researchers need more information on where bighorn sheep are likely to come into contact with domestic sheep and goats to inform efforts to prevent disease outbreaks that could devastate bighorn sheep herds.
Bighorn sheep observations are also needed to fill gaps in our knowledge about their habitat and migration corridors, and help managers plan for bighorn conservation as development, traffic, and demand for recreation access increase in Colorado.
Become a Community Scientist:
To get involved in this project, start by watching RMW’s volunteer training webinar, and joining our iNaturalist project, Go Big! Central Colorado Bighorn Sheep Survey. Then, when you are in the project focus area (or anywhere in Central Colorado) use iNaturalist to record observations of bighorn sheep, domestic sheep, and goats (see detailed instructions here). If you are interested in recording observations of bighorn sheep elsewhere in the state, check out Mountain Studies Institute’s statewide monitoring effort. If you see bighorn sheep near domestic sheep or goats, IMMEDIATELY report to Jamin Grigg, wildlife biologist, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 719-530-5537.
More Information:
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife bighorn sheep video (4 minutes)
- Award winning film highlighting bighorn lambs(7 minutes)
- Bighorn viewing tips from Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Make way for deer and bighorn sheep and elk – Polis announces an order to clear the path for safer animal migrations
- Video on How bighorn sheep use crowdsourcing to find food on the hoof(3 minutes)
- Management recommendations to minimize the risk of disease transmission between domestic sheep and goats and wild bighorn sheep (by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies)
- The Wildlife Society & American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians Joint Issue Statement: Domestic Sheep and Goats Disease Transmission Risk to Wild Sheep
- The Wildlife Society Fact Sheet: Impacts of Disease on Bighorn Sheep Management
- Bighorn Sheep Disease Consortium
Recent results, updates, and news:
