PRESS RELEASE DECEMBER 11-12, 2000

Desert Bighorn Capture and Transplant Largest Ever in Texas 

            The Texas Bighorn Society would like to congratulate Texas Parks and Wildlife on their latest success in the desert bighorn program.  December 12^th and 13^th a total of 65 bighorns were captured on the Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area.  45 of these animals (22 rams and 23 ewes) were fitted with tracking collars and transplanted to the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area to supplement that existing herd of bighorns.  20 additional bighorns were captured, fitted with collars, and released back onto Elephant Mountain to help determine movement patterns of that herd.  These efforts mark one of the highlights in a program that has brought desert bighorns back from extinction in the early 60’s to a herd in excess of 500 animals in Texas today.  Members of TBS and others assisted TP&W personnel with collaring, medical work-ups, and the subsequent releases of these magnificent creatures, helping showcase TBS’ role in the success.

            Capture was contracted to Helicopters by OZ out of Marysvale, Utah, using helicopter net guns.  These professionals managed to complete the capture without any fatalities or serious injuries, when fatalities of 3% to 5% are common.  Watching them work on our side of the mountain gave us a greater appreciation of the skill and daring required in catching wild animals in this windy West Texas terrain.

            Working with these animals up close allowed us to study these animals as few outside of the professional community ever get a chance too.  All of the animals captured were in excellent health, probably due to the fantastic habitat available at Elephant Mountain WMA.  The maintenance of this habitat was the driving factor behind moving these animals before the population expanded beyond what could realistically be supported.  The transplant will nearly double the number of sheep at Black Gap WMA and hopefully push that population to the level necessary to ensure their long-term viability. 

            The opportunity to be involved with the capture of these monarchs of the desert was only surpassed by seeing them released into their new home at Black Gap.  The ewes were moved in a modified stock trailer, and the rams in special boxes that kept them from harming themselves or the other sheep.  They scattered upon release, but the hope is that the size of this transplant will allow familiar animals to acclimate quickly to their new home.  A well-deserved sense of pride and accomplishment was evident listening to the biologists and others involved with the sheep program after the release.  Our last glimpse of the bighorns was one of the larger rams topping out on a distant ridgeline and pausing briefly in silhouette as he surveyed his new domain.  I can’t imagine any scene looking more natural or just plain right than that ram disappearing over the mountain.  Perhaps his disappearance today signifies the beginning of a new chapter in this rare success story in man’s interaction with his environment.

            Many people are responsible for the success of Texas’ Desert Bighorn reintroduction program, too many to name here.  Certainly TBS members deserve credit for their contributions and TP&W biologists and technicians work tirelessly to ensure the success of this program, but all Texans can share in the results, and take pride in the fact that Desert Bighorn Sheep once again roam the mountains of Texas. 

David Wetzel 

Notes:   TP&W filmed the capture and release, and it will be aired on PBS     
               in the future.  Show times will be listed in the Texas Parks and            
               Wildlife magazine.     

       **    Special thanks are due to Mr. Clay Brewer for his exceptional
              efforts in organizing this capture and giving everyone possible a
              chance to participate.  Be proud and rest well, amigo.  **  

                                         
     Here are some more exciting photos from the capture at Elephant Mountain WMA.  Click on the photo that interests you to see a larger picture, then use your Web browser's BACK button to return to this page.

Photos courtesy of Earl Nottingham of TP&W.

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