CALIFORNIA BIGHORN Ovis canadensis californiana (Douglas) 



Order: ARTIODACTYLA Family: BOVIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics: Similar in size to the Rocky Mountain bighorn 

 (Ovis c. canadensis) but differs in being somewhat darker in coloration and in having 

 the horns smaller and more slender, the tips not usually being blunted as severely as 

 in canadensis . 



Present distribution : In the United States, free roaming populations apparently confined 

 to eastern Oregon and the high Sierra Nevada of California . The maincrest of the mountains 

 and lateral ridges running west are occupied in the summer months and the lower east- 

 facing slopes during the winter. In Canada, there are herds in southern British Columbia, 

 some of which may migrate into Washington during the summer. 



Former distribution : From Chilcotin River, British Columbia, south through Cascades 

 of Washington and Oregon and Sierra Nevada of California to vicinity of Mount Whitney; 

 and western Nevada south probably to Mineral County . 



Status : Jones (1950) concluded that the trend in population in the Sierra Nevada was 

 upward. Declared rare by California Fish and Game Commission. 



Estimated numbers ; Less than 200 in California; 1,200 in British Columbia (Buechner, 

 1960: 73); 250 in Oregon; 18 in Nevada. 



Breeding rate in the wild : One (occas . 2) lambs per ewe annually. 



Reasons for decline : Indiscriminate hunting and scabies , presumably contracted from 

 domestic sheep, were evidently the principal causes for decline. Possibly direct 

 competition with domestic livestock for adequate range predisposed the bighorn sheep 

 population to disease . 



Protective measures already taken : The California bighorn is fully protected by State 

 law in California. In addition, an effort is underway to establish permanent natural 

 populations of the subspecies in Washington with animals imported from British Columbia. 

 Transplants to Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge and Steens Mountain, Oregon successful. 

 Transplants to Sheldon Antelope Range, Nevada, and to Lava Beds National Monument, 

 California recently made. In key bighorn sheep areas in California the U.S. Forest Service 

 and National Park Service have restricted human use. In Sierra Nevada Range a 41,000 

 acre zoological area to protect two herds established on Inyo National Forest. 



Measures proposed : Continue efforts to introduce animals into areas from which they 

 were extirpated; attempt to improve forage conditions through reduction of competing 

 domestic livestock, elk, and deer. 



Number in captivity: Not known. Total of 30 in enclosures at Lava Beds National 

 Monument and Sheldon Antelope Range . 



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