The Plan | Our Desert Bighorn Sheep Conservation Model
The return of a healthy, sustainable population of Desert Bighorn sheep to this region of Mexico, which had previously been absent for the past 50 to 60 years, speak volumes to the conservation efforts of the Artee family. Current, on-the-ground projects, including translocations, baseline health assessments, water developments, and other habitat improvements within and adjacent to the newly-established area have led to some of the short-term goals being achieved. More specifically, our model identifies the following goals necessary to the programs ultimate success:
Short-Term Goals (Partially Completed)
Release one or two herds, with a total of 40 specimens of bighorn sheep.
To have survival between 60 and 70% of the total number of bighorn sheep released.
Have a reproductive success between 40 and 50% of the animals released.
Monitor the group of sheep released monthly.
Raise awareness of adjacent landowners about the importance of conserving wildlife resources.
Install or implement watering holes in the area to release herds of bighorn sheep, this within a radius of 2 km.
Block alternate neighbor roads that get into the sierra and build a new perimeter road for monitoring wildlife and surveillance.
Count on staff and monitoring equipment, which are responsible for monitoring the artificial troughs and feeders, which are always with water and food, as well as perform surveillance patrols.
A desert bighorn sheep herd is prepared for one of several scheduled releases. These sheep are part of our base herd that today constitutes our sustainable sheep population.
In November of 2018, 25 additional rams were released as part of our ongoing herd expansion program.
Mid-Term (1 to 3 years)
Release three to four additional herds, with a total of 60 bighorn sheep.
Continue to conduct monthly monitoring in different areas of Sierra El Alamo.
Evaluate the increase of population in the area to determine the level of survival of the different herds and to project the possibility of making future releases in the following years.
Raise awareness of adjacent landowners about the importance of conserving wildlife resources. Combat poaching.
Continue to install watering holes at points farther away from the range, in order to gradually cover the entire area.
Drilling and installation of well and water tank.
Increase the number of artificial troughs in the area to continue supporting the endemic fauna.
Complete the perimeter road of the Sierra 100% to control the accesses and facilitate the monitoring and surveillance of the area.
Indicate and mark the entire area with warning signs, mentioning the program.
Increase staff, equipment and monitoring points to cover more land area.
Long-Term (3-5 years)
Release three to four additional herds, with a total of 50 specimens of bighorn sheep.
Continue to conduct monthly monitoring in different areas of the Sierra El Alamo.
Carry out an aerial monitoring in coordination with federal or state authorities, to obtain population data, so that they are integrated to the analysis of the monitoring of the released herds.
Keep the neighbors and society in general aware of the importance of the conservation program.
Have the entire perimeter covered with artificial troughs and enough feeders to reinforce the growth and reproduction of the endemic fauna.
Surveillance and Anti-Poaching
Security signage and soft corral facility.
Sierra El Alamo is well posted with appropriate signage indicating the boundaries of the area, the type of work being done there, and the obvious prohibition of poaching, with an emphasis on protection of wildlife. We deploy personnel and surveillance units (ATV’s and motorcycles) with the aim of ensuring no unauthorized entry, and to avoiding any extraction of flora and fauna.