Here is the response I got from John Stewart - read the last sentence. I knew it wouldn't be long....
>>> John Stewart <john@muirnet.net> 3/11/2005 10:59:01 AM >>>
That is a common sight heading up Montazuma Grade
on S-22 out of Borrego Springs.
There is a lot of controversy about the health of
the big horn sheep population. With every step
the park takes to "protect" them, there is an
unexplained population crash.
We do know that since vehicles were excluded from
Coyote Canyon, water sources have become
overgrown and sheep no longer use them.
Since the wild horses were removed, mountain lion
have switched to big horn sheep as a primary food
source. The park had 18 collared sheep die. 15
were confirmed mountain lion kills.
There are many issues involving the sheep.
Everyone can agree on one core issue, the
population is in steady decline.
This particular genetic breed (Peninsular Big
Horn) are problematic. In the early 1950's a
number were captured and relocated to Southern
Idaho to re-establish a breeding population in
Owyhee County. That population flourished until
the past few years. Like the ABDSP heard, they
have had a significant population crash in recent
years.
Mountain lion predation is a major cause. But,
something else is happening and it is not
vehicles.
Like the desert tortoise, the big horn is a
rallying species to exclude human access.
BTW, parks is even wanting to exclude hiking from
the Palm and Coyote Canyon areas where the major
herd of big horns habitat.
At 9:19 AM -0800 3/10/05, Robert Yates wrote:
>I am one of the founding members of
www.Jeepbbs.net. One of my fellow
>board members was in Anza Borrego State Park during the weekend of TDS
>and took the attached picture that I thought you folks might be
>interested in.
>
>I thought that this photograph might be helpful in the struggle to
>re-open Coyote Canyon given the junk science bandied about concerning
>the well being of the sheep.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Robert J. Yates
>
>Attachment converted: lil' jeep:sheep.jpg (JPEG/?IC?) (001643A0)
--
John Stewart
Director, Environmental Affairs
United Four Wheel Drive Associations,
http://www.ufwda.org
Natural Resource Consultant
California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs,
http://www.ca4wdc.com
Recreation Access and Conservation Editor,
http://www.4x4wire.com
Moderator, MUIRNet - Multiple Use Information Resource Network