Six years after they were originally proposed for endangered listing, on March 18, 1998, the United States Peninsular Ranges population of desert bighorn sheep was federally listed as an endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. At that time, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service determined that Peninsular bighorn sheep are in danger of extinction throughout a significant portion of their range. But that was before Bush.
Now, the Fish and Wildlife Service, which actually serves the interests of developers, is proposing to decrease protected habitat by half.
Peninsular bighorn sheep have been listed under the California State Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 1971, but they continued to decline despite management plans, research, habitat acquisition, and the establishment of ecological reserves. A disease epidemic preceded a vast population decline within the U.S. In the 1990's, heavy mountain lion predation accompanied by variable lamb recruitment rates continued to suppress bighorn populations. While predation is not typically a concern for healthy bighorn populations, it can severely impact those already debilitated by disease, habitat loss, or low numbers. Furthermore, habitat loss for Peninsular bighorn sheep has occurred at an alarming rate.
