Volunteers sought for bighorn sheep survey

[Wrightwood]

Now you can help with the Bighorn Sheep Restoration Program!



Volunteers are needed on February 23 and 24, 2007 (Friday evening and all day Saturday) to assist in the annual survey of bighorn sheep in the San Gabriel Mountains.  The California Department of Fish and Game, U. S. Forest Service, and the Society for Conservation of Bighorn Sheep have been conducting annual surveys for bighorn sheep in the San Gabriel range since 1979.

The mountain range once held an estimated 740 bighorn sheep, which made the San Gabriel population the largest population of desert bighorn sheep in the United States.  The population declined over 80% through the mid 1980’s but, as of 2006, appears to be on the increase, with recent estimates showing approximately 300 bighorn sheep. 
 


Volunteers will hike to designated observation sites in the San Gabriel Mountains and count and record all bighorn sheep observed.  Each volunteer group will be led by a representative from the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep.  Survey participants must be at least 16 years old and capable of hiking one mile on rugged terrain, though most routes will be longer.  Most of the hikes are not on trails, and may involve scrambling over boulders and climbing steep slopes.  Some survey routes require bouldering skills, bush-whacking through chaparral, or overnight backpacking.



No survey experience is necessary, however, volunteers must attend a mandatory orientation at 7:00 PM on Friday, February 23, at David Dreyer Hall, 11200 Baseline Rd., Rancho Cucamonga.

Complimentary campsites are available on a first-come basis at the Applewhite campground in Lytle Cr., and participants are encouraged to camp and hit the trails early Saturday.

Mountain weather can be unpredictable and volunteers should be prepared to spend several hours hiking and making observations in cold and windy weather.  Please call the Lytle Creek Ranger Station at 909/382-2851 no later than February 15, to sign up and receive a volunteer packet.

[Wrightwood]

This important message was missed in the first posting and added.

Complimentary campsites are available on a first-come basis at the Applewhite campground in Lytle Cr., and participants are encouraged to camp and hit the trails early Saturday.

[BostonBob]

In today's Daily Press:

Local bighorn population on the rise
State Fish and Game Department investigating possible poaching
Hillary Borrud February 05, 2007
*

LYTLE CREEK — An estimated 740 bighorn sheep once roamed the San Gabriel Mountains, making the range home to the largest population of the protected animals in the United States, according to the Society for Conservation of Bighorn Sheep.

Those numbers decreased by over 80 percent by the 1980s due to unrestricted hunting and disease, among other factors but recently, the population has been on the rise, according to the society. About 290 animals were counted during last year’s annual census, said Steve Holl, a consultant who helped the Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Game draft a restoration program for the bighorns.

“One of the greatest embarrassments would be if one day, we had to admit that we had a beautiful population of bighorn sheep and we let them die out,” said John Hybarger, a member of the Society for Conservation of Bighorn Sheep board and a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Fish and Game Commission.

This year’s bighorn census will take place on Feb. 23 to 24, with volunteers hiking into roadless wilderness areas and biologists in a helicopter scouting for sheep from the air. The information gathered during the census, which began in 1979, helps agencies make population management decisions.

“There’s no way the agencies tasked to manage our wildlife can handle this,” said Dayan Anderson, a member of the Society for Conservation of Bighorn Sheep board. “They don’t have enough staff to do it,” she said, and tax dollars are in short supply.

Hunting of bighorn sheep is highly regulated. Hunters can enter a lottery for a once-in-alifetime chance at the animals, and rare hunting opportunities are also auctioned off for up to $80,000 with the proceeds going to fund management programs, Anderson said.

While the San Gabriel Mountains population has rebounded in recent years, the California Department of Fish and Game is still investigating the discovery of three sheep tracking collars that were discovered in mid-November last year without the animals, Kyle Orr, a spokesman for the agency said. Anderson said the collars were found at the same time a deer hunter went missing in the mountains.

Bighorn experts said several factors could be affecting the San Gabriel Mountains population. “Bighorn sheep prefer escape terrain, big rocky slopes where they can see if any threats are coming,” Anderson said. Lately, however, there have been fewer forest fires, allowing the sheep’s habitat to grow and increase in density.

An increase in mountain lions, which could have had artificially low numbers in the first half of the 20th century when the state offered a bounty for them, could also keep bighorns from increasing more quickly, Hybarger said.

First-time volunteer Darryl Evey said he is excited about hiking through wilderness areas for the census. “The area we’re going into is off-limits,” he said. “That’s why I’m into it.”

Survey participants must be at least 16 years old. No experience is necessary, but volunteers must attend a mandatory meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 at David Dreyer Hall, 11200 Baseline Road in Rancho Cucamonga.

For more information, call the Lytle Creek Ranger Station at (909) 382-2851. Volunteers must sign up no later than Feb. 15.

[Nolena]

I'm signed up.
Camping at Applewhite. 

[ezzpete]

has anyone gotten their info. package yet?

[BostonBob]

has anyone gotten their info. package yet?

Yes, it came today.

[FunkyGorilla]

I've still got to call... 

[Wrightwood]

Get busy!

[FunkyGorilla]

Are they going to tell us what to bring? Or could any of you post what we should bring? I haven't been up hiking up in the mountains since I was like 10 

[Nolena]

Here's a little information about hiking clothing to give you some ideas.

http://www.hikingintherockies.com/other/clothing.htm

[FunkyGorilla]

Just signed up 

[RobertW]

Are they going to tell us what to bring? Or could any of you post what we should bring? I haven't been up hiking up in the mountains since I was like 10 

I'll post a list of items you'll need shortly.  I'll also post the 6 locations in South Fork Canyon we will be dropping groups off to observe.  BostonBob and I will be going into South Fork Canyon of Lytle Creek.

The survey locations in that canyon range from just 2 miles round trip and only a 250 ft. elevation change to 6 1/2 miles round trip with a 2,000 ft change in elevation.

There is something for everybody.  Of course that is just one of the canyons they will be doing observations from.  They will have other groups as well.  The Cattle Canyon group will be meeting early on Friday at 11:30 am and heading out immediately after the meeting due to the remoteness of the location.  Last year they flew people in.  This year they have to hike in.  That group will be spending the night on the trail so as to get into position early Saturday morning.  The Biologist with the CDFG said he may establish another overnight trek into Deer, Day, Barret or Cascade Canyon as well.  I'll find out more this weekend.

BTW, typically the count is done from both the ground and the air.  You usually stay at your post until the chopper comes over your location and waves you off.  Then you start hiking back out.  Even if the weather isn't good and the Helicopter can't fly, we will still be doing the ground count.  Different weather will mean different gear.

[Nolena]

How soon would someone need to be at Applewhite to snag a camping space?

[RobertW]

How soon would someone need to be at Applewhite to snag a camping space?

There has never been a problem getting space in the past.  If there is, I'm sure the USFS will make other arrangements.

[Nolena]

Liike a 4 star hotel?