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May 06, 2003
Listing to allow better aid for bighorn sheep
By Keith Lair, San Bernardino Sun Staff Writer
The beleaguered San Gabriel Mountain Nelson bighorn sheep is being placed on the Southern California Regional Forest's "sensitive' list, which will allow the animal to receive consideration when it comes to establishing forest service policy, and provide aid in the study of the population.
Wildlife biologists Bill Brown and Steve Loe who work in both the San Bernardino and Angeles national forests, made the request, which is expected to be approved by Region 5 Forester Jack Lagwell.
"It gives us more money and effort to take corrective action,' said Brown, the Angeles National Forest's lead biologist.
In addition, the Department of Fish and Game will collar sheep and mountain lions to study both animals.
There are now 25 "sensitive' animals and plants listed in the Angeles National Forest and a combined 200 in the forests that make up Region 5, including the San Bernardino, Cleveland and Los Padres forests.
There are about 90 sheep in four herds in the Angeles and San Bernardino forests, Steve Holl found in a survey by the L.A. County Fish and Game Commission last September. In 1980, there were about 750 sheep in the Mount Baldy/Cucamonga, Cattle Canyon, East Fork and San Gabriel Canyon Middle Fork herds.
Holl, the Forest Service and the California Department of Fish and Game have determined that to save the herds, prescribed burns are needed, and mountain lions must be studied to determine if they are affecting the population.
"Those two agencies need to pull together to implement this program,' Holl said. "If they don't, then these guys need to be federally listed.'
Although the North American Nelson bighorn population is in no danger of being listed, the San Gabriel Mountain population could qualify for federal designation as either threatened or endangered. To do so, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would have to start its own study of the sheep, or a citizen's petition must be submitted, according to the Forest Service spokeswoman Jane Hendron.
"It would be best if they remain on the sensitive list,' said Department of Fish and Game biologist Chanel Davis, who has studied the population for more than a decade. "If it goes on to a federal list, it throws more problems into the mix.'
Holl speculates the population began declining when mountain lions began eating sheep after the deer population became too small. He said sheep may have gradually replaced deer as their top food choice. In addition, feral dogs have been found to eat sheep.
Brown said prescribed burns will do the most good for the sheep, but burning in wilderness areas is a problem.
"Our plan is to file for a permit next year and possibly have burns by late 2004 or early 2005.
"It has to be the right prescription. And the right circumstances. Fires in these areas are more difficult to put out.'
He said the extremely steep slopes will make the burns helicopter-controlled, and it would be likely mechanical ground equipment could be used.
"There's a good chance the sheep would last that long,' Davis said. "They've been pretty stable for the past three years.'
Davis said a quarter of the herd and a few mountain lions will be captured and receive radio collars. Both animals' food source, migration patterns and mortality will be tracked.
"The key term is viability,' Holl said of the population. "Right now, it is questionable.'
Keith Lair can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2272, or by e-mail at keith.lair@sgvn.com.
Listing to allow better aid for bighorn sheep
By Keith Lair, San Bernardino Sun Staff Writer
The beleaguered San Gabriel Mountain Nelson bighorn sheep is being placed on the Southern California Regional Forest's "sensitive' list, which will allow the animal to receive consideration when it comes to establishing forest service policy, and provide aid in the study of the population.
Wildlife biologists Bill Brown and Steve Loe who work in both the San Bernardino and Angeles national forests, made the request, which is expected to be approved by Region 5 Forester Jack Lagwell.
"It gives us more money and effort to take corrective action,' said Brown, the Angeles National Forest's lead biologist.
In addition, the Department of Fish and Game will collar sheep and mountain lions to study both animals.
There are now 25 "sensitive' animals and plants listed in the Angeles National Forest and a combined 200 in the forests that make up Region 5, including the San Bernardino, Cleveland and Los Padres forests.
There are about 90 sheep in four herds in the Angeles and San Bernardino forests, Steve Holl found in a survey by the L.A. County Fish and Game Commission last September. In 1980, there were about 750 sheep in the Mount Baldy/Cucamonga, Cattle Canyon, East Fork and San Gabriel Canyon Middle Fork herds.
Holl, the Forest Service and the California Department of Fish and Game have determined that to save the herds, prescribed burns are needed, and mountain lions must be studied to determine if they are affecting the population.
"Those two agencies need to pull together to implement this program,' Holl said. "If they don't, then these guys need to be federally listed.'
Although the North American Nelson bighorn population is in no danger of being listed, the San Gabriel Mountain population could qualify for federal designation as either threatened or endangered. To do so, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would have to start its own study of the sheep, or a citizen's petition must be submitted, according to the Forest Service spokeswoman Jane Hendron.
"It would be best if they remain on the sensitive list,' said Department of Fish and Game biologist Chanel Davis, who has studied the population for more than a decade. "If it goes on to a federal list, it throws more problems into the mix.'
Holl speculates the population began declining when mountain lions began eating sheep after the deer population became too small. He said sheep may have gradually replaced deer as their top food choice. In addition, feral dogs have been found to eat sheep.
Brown said prescribed burns will do the most good for the sheep, but burning in wilderness areas is a problem.
"Our plan is to file for a permit next year and possibly have burns by late 2004 or early 2005.
"It has to be the right prescription. And the right circumstances. Fires in these areas are more difficult to put out.'
He said the extremely steep slopes will make the burns helicopter-controlled, and it would be likely mechanical ground equipment could be used.
"There's a good chance the sheep would last that long,' Davis said. "They've been pretty stable for the past three years.'
Davis said a quarter of the herd and a few mountain lions will be captured and receive radio collars. Both animals' food source, migration patterns and mortality will be tracked.
"The key term is viability,' Holl said of the population. "Right now, it is questionable.'
Keith Lair can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2272, or by e-mail at keith.lair@sgvn.com.
