Desert Bighorn Sheep Population Increases in Franklin Mountains
Desert bighorn sheep have made a triumphant return to the Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recently released around 80 sheep to their historic range as part of a larger initiative aimed at reintroducing native animals that had vanished from the state due to disease and unregulated hunting.
Excitement filled the air as the public gathered at Franklin Mountains State Park to witness this historic event. Among them was Michelle Altamirano, who brought her six-year-old son Mozzy to witness the moment under the bright blue sky. Mozzy, eager to see his first sheep, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “It sounds really cool!” The anticipation was palpable as a TPWD crew captured the sheep in Brewster County using nets shot from helicopters and transported them to El Paso after ensuring their health.
As the trailers carrying the sheep arrived at the park, onlookers eagerly awaited the release. The first trailer opened to reveal a group of ewes that wasted no time darting toward the mountains. The sight of rams hesitating for a moment before joining their counterparts in their new habitat was a moment of awe for all present.
David Yoskowitz, Executive Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife, expressed his excitement, stating, “We have 40 mature females that are all pregnant. El Paso, y’all, are going to have baby lambs on the landscape come next spring.” The return of these majestic creatures holds personal significance for Bernadine Dittmar, the widow of Dr. Bob Dittmar, a wildlife veterinarian who tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash while surveying bighorn sheep in Brewster County in 2020. She attended the release to honor her late husband’s memory and emphasize the importance of preserving these majestic animals.
The release of the last bighorn sheep was met with a round of applause as the ram joined the rest of the herd on the mountainside. Froylan Hernandez, the project manager for the Desert Bighorn Sheep Restoration Project, described the El Paso release as the culmination of a massive effort to bring these animals back to their natural habitat.
This momentous occasion signifies a significant step in the conservation and restoration of desert bighorn sheep in Texas, offering hope for the future of these iconic animals in the Franklin Mountains and beyond.
