Bighorn Sheep Restoration in North America

COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION CASE STUDY

Restoring Bighorn Sheep to their Historic Range

Location: Northeastern/Mid-Atlantic

Project Summary: Through research, habitat enhancements, and translocations, bighorn sheep have been restored to much of their native range. Their numbers have been increased from below 50,000 to over 200,000.

Resource Challenge

Due to human activities, wild sheep numbers and their distribution had been vastly reduced. These activities, including diseases from domestic livestock, habitat degradation and loss, water source manipulations, and market harvesting, had reduced bighorn numbers to fewer than 50,000 in North America.

Examples of Key Partners

Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS), and its Chapters and Affiliates, State Game and Fish agencies, US Forest Service, and Bureau of Land management

Results and Accomplishments

The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, and its Chapters and Affiliates, have generated over $50,000,000 to fund projects to benefit wild sheep. These funds, provided to many federal, state, tribal, and university partners have helped not only wild sheep, but many wildlife species. Wild sheep numbers in North American have increased from below 50,000 to over 200,000 animals.

Innovation/Highlight

Project Contact

Raymond Lee
President
Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS)
720 Allen Avenue
Cody, WY 82414
(307) 527-6261
rlee@fnaws.org

Website: http://www.fnaws.org

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