Studying the Desert Bighorn

My fascination with biodiversity began in LA (California) where I grew up.  I traded body surfing for desert and mountain explorations, and melded that pursuit into serious science.  But, I also soon realized that if we did not do more than just science we’d not have species and important biological interactions from which to enhance our understanding of a diverse and brilliant planet.  I’ve concentrated on animals larger than a bread box – both iconic endangered species and those lesser known.  Among these have been black rhinos and wild yaks, Patagonia’s huemul, and saiga in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.  Although I’ve targeted extreme spots – described in my Geographical pursuits – including the edges of the planet, I ask questions about climate and environmental change, migration and connectivity, and, most recently, how our burgeoning passion for play and our travel footprints affect species at a local scale.  In my soul, I know the important issue is how to engage science at levels that not only inform but improve visibility and result in change. 

Joel as a Polar Bear

Extreme Conservation

Joel’s Website

While an increasing number of people are visiting wilderness areas, more of the wildlife that inhabit those areas are coming into contact with humans. This column, from an interview with Conservation Scientist Joel Berger, will help people understand how to enter the more extreme recreational areas while respecting the wildlife that live there. 

Berger: I’m Joel Berger. I’m a professor at Colorado State University living in Castle Valley, Utah and am currently on sabbatical. I’m a senior scientist for a group out of the Bronx Zoo known as the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Science Moab: What got you interested in wildlife conservation to begin with?

Berger: I grew up in Los Angeles, leaving when I was 20. There, I got interested in wildlife and deserts in the remote areas outside of LA where I used to ride dirt bikes. Over time, I noticed roadrunners disappearing, desert tortoises being shot, and coyotes hanging from fences. I thought maybe there’s another way to think about how we recreate and yet still appreciate sports like motorcycle riding, dune buggying, mountain biking, and hiking.

Science Moab: Can you talk about the progression of studying wildlife and habitats in extreme places throughout your career? Will you also describe what “extreme” means to you?

Berger: I became interested in science because it might inspire another generation. At the same time, I enjoyed spending time in nature. I moved towards studying more extreme habitats in especially high latitudes and elevations. We can also think of “extreme” as desert environments because of the limited precipitation. 

Science Moab: Will you talk about your interests in studying bighorn sheep distribution and how they’re doing as a species? 

Berger: Desert bighorn sheep are the smallest of the wild sheep that live in North America. Females weigh 100 pounds, sometimes a little more. Males can weigh up to 175 pounds or more. Further north, they’re larger because it’s colder. Desert bighorn live in fairly small groups – it’s unusual to find more than a half-dozen. This is because the food resources are widely distributed and are pretty scant. Springtime is important because females are pregnant. They have to eat a lot to sustain the growth of those fetuses. This is when the desert spring grasses start to emerge. This is also the period where we have most of our visitation in this area. This is a potential conflict setup. We are interested in studying how the sheep are responding.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has been vigilant and protective of bighorn sheep in Utah. These sheep used to be widely distributed throughout Utah in any suitable habitat – usually cliffs and sub-mountain areas. But around the turn of the century, when Utah was being colonized by Europeans, bighorn sheep began to plummet. This, especially, because domestic sheep grazing and cattle grazing were important to sustain us humans. As a consequence, diseases were transmitted to big horns. Bighorns were also hunted ruthlessly. Since the 70’s the state  began reintroducing bighorns back into natural habitats. Canyonlands has a decently sized population. Arches and Capitol Reef have some bighorns. In San Juan County, south of the San Juan River, the Navajo Nation has bighorn sheep. Across BLM lands, we have the Potash herd. And BLM has done a remarkable job trying to post signage so that people are aware that they need to tread carefully in these areas where there are bighorns.

Science Moab: Can you share what you’ll be studying? And how? 

Berger: We’re looking at those populations that have the most human contact and comparing them to the ones that have the least human contact.  

We’re interested in understanding at what level the animals may experience nothing. I can say that the people I interact with at every level are interested in maintaining bighorn sheep. They are a bio-cultural resource. There is nothing more symbolic of our past and our bio-cultural future. In terms of management implications, it clearly depends on what we find. It may turn out to be that some areas need stronger protection. A lot of care has gone into planning where people can ride, recreate, and engage in adventure sports, and where we have wildlife resources. So we’re just trying to fine tune this a little bit.

Science Moab: What can and should people be aware of when potentially in a bighorn sheep habitat? How should they respond and act?

Berger: People should certainly enjoy the wildlife. Obviously, if you keep pushing and pushing up closer and closer, the animals will run, so try not to do that. People can take photographs from a good distance, plop down a chair, and watch from a distance where the animals don’t seem to be alarmed. They shouldn’t keep approaching, especially if they have dogs. These animals have learned that dogs, coyotes, bobcats, and cougars are threats to them. Just use good common sense. Just don’t keep pushing up towards an animal.