Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: New Mexico
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

New Mexico Project


Effects of recreational disturbance on desert bighorn sheep in western Colorado

August 2020 - June 2025


Personnel

Participating Agencies

  • Wild Sheep Foundation
  • Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society
  • T & E, Inc.,
  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Desert Bighorn Sheep in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, Colorado.

Responses by large herbivores to human disturbance can result in a change in their habitat use, movements, and increased vigilance and decreased foraging time. Increased movements and reduced foraging time result in higher energetic costs and lower energetic gains, potentially decreasing fitness. The goal of this project is to determine potential impacts of increasing recreational activities on desert bighorn sheep in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, Colorado and develop management recommendations as appropriate to mitigate negative effects of recreation on desert bighorn sheep herds.


Presentations Presentation Date
Evans, A.D., B. Banulis, N. Perry, C.R. Anderson, and J.W. Cain III. 2022. The effects of wildland recreational disturbance on desert bighorn sheep in western Colorado. 29th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Spokane, Washington. November 2022
Evans, A.D., J.W. Cain III, B. Banulis, N. Perry, and C. Anderson. 2021. Effects of human recreation on desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) in western Colorado. 54th Joint Annual Meeting of the Arizona/New Mexico Chapters of The Wildlife Society, Virtual Online. February 2021
Evans, A.D., J.W. Cain III, B. Banulis, N. Perry, and C. Anderson. 2021. Effects of wildland recreational disturbance on desert bighorn sheep in western Colorado. 56th Meeting of the Desert Bighorn Council, Virtual Online. April 2021