Credit: NPS

November 16, 2016 - Five Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep rams were released into the Cathedral Range last week.

These rams were moved from the Baxter and Sawmill Herds in the U.S. Forest Service - Inyo National Forest with the goal of increasing the reproductive capacity of Yosemite's Cathedral Herd.

This addition brings the total number of bighorns in the Cathedral Herd to 18 and increases the overall number of bighorns in the Yosemite area (Northern Recovery Unit) to an estimated 100 bighorn sheep.

The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is an endangered subspecies and boosting productivity and survivorship are important goals for recovering the population.

This program is funded in part by Yosemite Conservancy, and is a partnership between the National Park Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (lead agency this project), and many other organizations.

To learn more about Yosemite's Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep program, visit https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/sheep.htm
Source: NPS

Earlier information: 
Endangered Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Restored to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks
And
New Yosemite Nature Notes Episode Features Bighorn Sheep - Rare Species of Sheep Reintroduced to Yosemite in March of 2015