The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) applauds the effort to restore desert bighorn sheep in the Lone Star State’s Franklin Mountains State Park.
Historically, desert bighorn sheep were native to Texas. With the settlement of the Trans-Pecos Region of Texas, native wild sheep populations declined rapidly, becoming extirpated by 1960. Through hard work and dedication, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the Texas Bighorn Society (TBS), private landowners, and dedicated sportsmen and women collaborated to restore desert bighorns to many historic mountain ranges.
“Recently, wild sheep populations in Texas have declined dramatically because of health-related die-offs associated with pathogen transmission from non-native aoudad,” explained Kevin Hurley, WSF’s VP for Conservation. “Franklin Mountains State Park is one area identified by TPWD and TBS that is free of aoudad, making it the perfect location to re-introduce desert bighorn sheep safely.”
This October, up to 80 desert bighorn sheep will be captured by helicopter netgun from the Elephant Mountain WMA herd south of Alpine, TX. Those desert bighorns will be tested for pathogens, and their health and body condition will be assessed and fitted with GPS tracking radio collars, moved, and released into the Franklin Mountains State Park.
Hurley said, “The Elephant Mountain population is currently the only source herd in the state. This project aims to establish a second disease-free source population where, hopefully, a surplus number of bighorns will support future translocations of desert sheep to suitable habitats in the Trans-Pecos.
“The Texas Bighorn Society is excited about this opportunity to continue our efforts to expand the desert bighorn sheep population in Texas,” said Sam Cunningham, President of the Texas Bighorn Society. “We are proud to continue our work with our conservation partners, most notably TPWD, who have made this all possible. Under the leadership and vision of Froylan Hernandez, the Department’s Desert Sheep Program Leader, Franklin Mountain State Park was identified as a location with unlimited potential. Historically, desert bighorn sheep inhabited the Franklin Mountains, though none have been here for over 75 years. Our main objective is to establish a disease-free source herd in Texas, and Franklin Mountain is perfect for that. It is free of aoudad and disease and is excellent habitat for wild sheep.”
An initial step for this translocation was taken in mid-March 2024 when two water catchment drinkers were installed by TBS volunteers in strategic locations inside the state park to provide reliable water for the incoming desert bighorns and other desert-dwelling wildlife.
Led by TPWD and TBS, this Franklin Mountains State Park desert bighorn sheep restoration was supported by many conservation partners. Funding for the transplant was provided by the Wild Sheep Foundation, Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, WSF Midwest, CampFire Club Conservation Fund, WSF Eastern Chapter, and the Houston Safari Club Foundation. TBS, The Panhandle Chapter of Dallas Safari Club, Idaho WSF, Oregon WSF, Washington WSF, and the Water for Wildlife Foundation funded the two water guzzlers.
Cunningham commented, “This is not an inexpensive endeavor but worth the investment. The Wild Sheep Foundation generously funded a grant request submitted by TBS to support this translocation. With that funding, WSF has helped save the desert bighorn sheep in Texas.”
“A special thanks to all our funding partners, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Bighorn Society and its volunteers for making these critical projects possible,” Hurley added. “These efforts allow WSF to help them Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®.”
The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), based in Bozeman, Mont., was founded in 1977 by sportsmen and other wild sheep conservationists. WSF is the premier advocate for wild sheep, having raised and expended more than $145 million, positively impacting these species through population and habitat enhancements, research and education, and conservation advocacy programs in North America, Europe, and Asia to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep On the Mountain”®. In North America, these and other efforts have increased bighorn sheep populations from historic lows in the 1950s-60s of 25,000 to more than 85,000 today. WSF has a membership of more than 11,000 worldwide. www.wildsheepfoundation.org.
