California Bighorn Sheep Lamb Count

California Bighorn Sheep Lamb Count – 7 day Conservation Trip

California Bighorn Sheep Lamb Count from August 11th – 17th. A unique experience to discover the wilderness, connect with nature and contribute to Conservation.

On this 7 day Pack Trip will you will be riding the mountain tops and your horse will bring you to places only the early pioneers have been to.

California Bighorn Sheep is a unique species which is considered at risk. It is important to continuously work on habitat management programs to ensure healthy populations. Our yearly lamb counts provide great insights into population numbers and helps us to shape our conservation efforts.

Join us four our 7 day California Bighorn Sheep Lamb Count from August 11th – 17th.

Spend your days riding your horse across the mountain tops and glassing the slopes for California Bighorn Sheep. Record the location, age and sex of all sheep that we see to build up detailed records of the sheep herds to assess annual herd recruitment. Actively contribute to the development of wildlife management practices that help maintain Bighorn sheep populations at a sustainable herd size.

Why are California Bighorn Sheep at risk?

50% of lambs and 20% of yearlings die from starvation, predation (particularly from cougar, wolf and coyote), accident and disease each year. Bighorn sheep frequently contract pneumonia from domestic sheep. While its relatively harmless for domestic sheep, it can be fatal to California Bighorn sheep, mostly lambs and older sheep.

How can we contribute to their conservation and stewardship?

Together with the Chilcotin Ark Institute, Chilcotin Holidays organizes lamb counts. On each lamb count, we carefully record the location, age and sex of all sheep that we see. This allows us to build up detailed records of the sheep herds to assess annual herd recruitment and assess if lamb death is more likely a cause of predation, disease or due to other reasons. From this, we shape our conservation management practices to help maintain Bighorn sheep populations at a sustainable herd size.