From the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society website (http://bighornsheep.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/321105042/m/956108625/r/956108625#956108625)...

Sangre de Cristo Sheep Inventory
July 22-24, 2005

Dear Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Society members:

The Division of Wildlife is planning a sheep inventory and classification on the 23th of July. Because of the rugged nature of this mountain range this is no small feat. The CDOW is asking for volunteer help for this event. Volunteers must be in excellent physical condition as hiking will be required for all routes. Those with horses may pack into their drainage; others who wish to do so may backpack.

There will be approximately 30 teams needed to accomplish this inventory. Teams will meet on the morning of Friday July 22th in either Westcliffe or Crestone, depending on their trailhead location. After meeting with biologists and being fed a barbecue lunch, the teams will head to their route. Saturday will be the classification day, with early morning and late evenings being the best times to find sheep above tree line. Teams will pack out Sunday morning. Teams must be equipped for time in the field in weather conditions that can change quickly. Teams must also have good optics (spotting scopes preferably, although good binoculars are acceptable).

Because of changing conditions in the Sangres and fewer inventory flights in the past five years, questions are arising about the number of sheep and their distribution in the range. Perhaps sheep are spending more time in the timber making them less visible. Changing conditions that may affect patterns include but are not limited to: More human and dog use after becoming designated a wilderness area; drought conditions for several years in a row; increased elk utilization in the high tundra areas. This inventory will provide an opportunity to see and inventory sheep, especially in tight drainages where our helicopter was unable to fly during the winter counts.

Anybody who wishes to volunteer to help with this should contact Allen Vitt (Terrestrial Biologist) at (719) 561-5306 (allen.vitt@state.co.us) or Becky Manly (District Wildlife Manager in Westcliffe) at (719) 429-0196 (becky.manly@state.co.us). Interested parties please contact one of the above by June 1.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!