Tracking Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep

There are four herds of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae) on the eastern side of the Sierras. They usually stay at higher elevations on Forest Service land, but they may venture down onto BLM land and into grazing allotments for domestic sheep. Domestic sheep may be able to transmit respiratory diseases to bighorns if they come in contact with each other. While this is unlikely to occur given the timing when grazing is allowed, we still keep an eye on the activity of the bighorn herds. The California Department of Fish & Game has fitted a number of bighorn sheep with radio collars that transmit coordinates via satellite. We're able to log into the system to see where the herds are hanging out and to make sure none of them are entering into areas where they may be at risk. It's a bit hard to see in this graphic, but this demonstrates locations of five radio-tagged rams over the past 6 months. They don't go far, do they?

What are these bighorns doing in the middle of Bishop?! And right across the street from my apartment?! The Fish & Game office is a half a block from where I live. Clearly these collars were still transmitting when they were turned on or returned to the office. We also sometimes get points from when the collars are sent back to Maine for repairs. Kinda funny. :)