How has drought impacted the size of the bighorn sheep population?
A1 Severe drought years have typically been followed by a drop in sheep numbers. On the Kofa, the 1994 survey estimated 811 bighorn on the refuge. The next (1997) survey immediately after the 1996 drought year estimated 600 sheep on the refuge. Similarly, the 2000 Kofa survey estimated 812 bighorn on the refuge, while the next (2003) survey, immediately after the 2002 severe drought year, estimated 620 bighorn. Despite somewhat improved rainfall patterns after 2003, the 2006 survey estimated 390 bighorn in the Kofa NWR population. However, while some bighorn populations elsewhere in the Kofa Mountains Complex (KMC) stabilized or even improved during the 2000-2006 timeframe, that portion of the herd on the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge has shown a steep, decline even when measured against declining populations elsewhere in the KMC. On the Kofa, the 1994 survey estimated 811 bighorn on the refuge. The next (1997) survey immediately after the 1996 drought year estimated 600 sheep on the r
