Wildlife Census on Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) in Jasper National Park

Bighorn sheep are one of Jasper's many animal species. The monitoring of these animals helps to determine the population sizes and productivity of the herds. In this study some of the more common herds were counted. A total of 455 sheep were counted of which 255 were females, 112 were males and 85 were young of the previous year. There was a good lamb to ewe ration of 33.3 which shows that generally the herds are doing well. However, some of these herds may be affected by highway and railway mortalities. Poaching of large mature rams may also affect the herd. Wildlife monitoring is becoming more important in the duties of national park wardens.