Colorado Parks and Wildlife

8/31/2023

NEWS ADVISORY: Media package on CPW's efforts to conserve the state’s Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep population

08/31/23

Travis Duncan
Public Information Supervisor
720-595-8294 / travis.duncan@state.co.us

NEWS ADVISORY: Media package on CPW's efforts to conserve the state’s Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep population

No wildlife species in Colorado is more majestic than the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Learn about CPW's efforts to perpetuate the state's bighorn sheep population in words, photos and video.

NEWS ADVISORY:
Attention Editors and News Directors:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is posting on Colorado Outdoors Online a package that includes a story, photos and video about CPW efforts to conserve the state’s Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep population.

The story takes readers along as CPW biologists, wildlife officers, a CPW commissioner, other CPW staff and volunteers recently ascended mighty Pikes Peak in the dark of night to begin daylong hikes circumventing America’s Mountain at various altitudes in search of Colorado’s state mammal.

In words, photos and video, learn why the CPW team makes this grueling expedition twice a year. See the agency’s intense efforts to perpetuate and expand the state’s bighorn sheep population. Hear all the challenges facing CPW biologists and researchers.

The package attempts to help readers understand that, a century ago, bighorn sheep were on the brink of extinction due to unchecked hunting pressure from pioneers and miners, habitat loss and from disease-causing pathogens carried by domestic animals.

The package focuses on the Pikes Peak herd, as it’s known, which is one of just a dozen or so historic herds that have spanned the eons without human intervention.

The goal is to show readers how CPW is working to ensure this herd, and the dozens of others it has helped resurrect statewide, will survive and thrive in the face of Colorado’s exploding human population.

Story: Protecting Colorado's bighorn sheep herds requires extraordinary effort by CPW biologists, officers and staff and volunteers.

The photos that accompany the story are located here.

Photos and video:
Photos and video from the August 3 and 10 bighorn sheep counts on Pikes Peak, as well as images of bighorn sheep from around the state.

Video: 'Livin' the Wildlife' Bighorn Sheep in Colorado:
No wildlife species in Colorado is more majestic than the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Yet, the mighty bighorn was nearly extinct at the turn of the century. Thanks to decades of dedicated and ongoing conservation efforts, the bighorn is once again thriving in Colorado. This video by CPW Senior Video Producer Jerry Neal features an up-close look at bighorn rams during their fall mating season, with simple facts about sheep behavior and biology.

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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

News & Media

NEWS ADVISORY: Media package on CPW's efforts to conserve the state’s Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep population