Response of desert bighorn sheep to human harassment: management implications

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Disturbance history of an animal population is an important component in the suite of factors that determines how animals will respond to human disturbance. However, systematic comparison of behavior in response to human disturbances in areas of contrasting disturbance regimes is rare. An opportunity to study desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsonii) under such conditions existed in southeastern Utah. Bighorn behavioral response to deliberate human harassment was compared between Red Canyon, an area that receives relatively high levels of human disturbance, and White Canyon, an area that receives relatively low levels of human disturbance, to determine if behavior differed with respect to severity of immediate response, distance fled, activity budgets and group wariness. Behavioral response of desert bighorn to encounters with humans were more severe and thus more energy costly for animals that had been historically exposed to relatively high levels of human disturbance. Wildlife and land managers should include evaluation of past disturbance history in bighorn habitat and plan to minimize potentially harassing human activities in crucial habitat particularly if bighorn have been exposed to high levels of human disturbance. Further research is needed to determine physiological and demographical impacts of human disturbance on desert bighorn sheep. Until such data are available, desert bighorn populations should be managed conservatively.

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Reference Code: A86KIN01IDUS

Full Citation: King, M. M., and G. W. Workman. 1986. Response of desert bighorn sheep to human harassment: management implications. Pages 74-84, in Transactions 51st North American Wildlife & Natural Resource Conference.

Location: ANIMAL EF: OVIS CANADENSIS CALIFORNIANA