Natural History Wanderings

The LA Times reported that a new herd of Sierra Nevada Sheep was reintroduced in the Southern Sierra Nevada in Inyo County. The Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep are a distinct subspecies of bighorn Sheep. They were down to two herds and about 100 sheep in the 1970s and were listed as endangered in 2000.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has working to reestablish herds in suitable habitat (steep mountain slopes between 5,000 and 14,000 feet elevation). There are now ten herds and about five hundred sheep. The historic range of the sheep is now mainly protected as it is within five national forests and five national parks. The state plans two establish three more herds and add more females to the areas of current herds. Read more at Bighorn herd reintroduced to Sierra Nevada area – latimes.com