Courtesy of Danielle Langloism, Wikipedia CCLBighorn Dilemma
MOUNT EVANS, Colo. –
Bighorn sheep, indigenous to the Colorado mountains, are being pushed out by mountain goats. Biologists are concerned about a nine year decline in bighorn population.
Nine non-native goats were introduced into the area by wildlife managers in 1948. Nine of the prolific, non-native goats were introduced at that time. They now number 1500 with about 140 living on Mt Evans.
With human encroachment, pollution and the more aggressive goats to contend with, the number of bighorn sheep has dropped from 600 to 360 in the past 20 years. Authorities fear that competition from goats will cause the numbers to drop further. In an attempt to give the sheep some breathing room, the state allows the hunting of mountain goats and plans to remove any goats they come across.
