March 2025

Spring Fling – It’s Almost Time!

We’re just a little over a week away from our 7th Annual Spring Fling fundraiser and there’s still time to sign up!  It’s Tuesday, April 8th from 5pm-7pm at Stone Eagle Golf Club in Palm Desert.  The evening includes dinner, a live and silent auction and more!  Tickets are $225/person and sponsorships are $1,000 and include 2 tickets to the Spring Fling plus advertising.  Sponsorships are totally tax-deductible!  If you’re unable to join us, a donation would be much-appreciated.  Bighorn Institute is privately funded so our Spring Fling fundraiser supports our much-needed work for the endangered Peninsular bighorn. For more information or to buy tickets, visit our website www.bighorninstitute.org/fundraisers or give us a call at 760-346-7334.

*Click photo for more information and to sign up

Lamb Update

We’ve documented a few new lambs in March, but the majority of the lambs are now around two months old.  We know there are more lambs yet to be born or documented so we’re in the field most days trying to see the collared ewes that may lead us to unmarked ewes that have lambs.  Most of the lambs are still alive, which is good news, but a number of them are already showing signs of illness, particularly those that use the urban area.  As always, if you’re out hiking and see lambs, please let us know by either calling 760-346-7334 or emailing bi@bighorninstitute.org. 

Home Away from Home

Last September, we told you about a collared ewe that lives in the northern Santa Rosa Mountains (NSRM) in south Palm Desert crossing over to the San Jacinto Mountains (SJM) of Palm Springs. At that time, she stayed around a month then came “home” to the NSRM.  This ewe has been fascinating to watch over the past few years in her choice of where to reside.  Originally captured and collared as a two-year old in December 2020 in the mountains of south Palm Desert, she now rarely resides in that area for more than a month or so each year.  She spends most of her time in the mountains adjacent to Rancho Mirage, but has now crossed to the SJM at least three separate times: October 2022, September 2024 and March 2025.  There was a fall theme with her crossing, until this spring, which makes her all the more curious with her decisions.  Never given birth to a lamb in all of her seven years, she’s free to roam as she pleases and is apparently doing just that.  She’s already returned to the NSRM and seems content to be back with her home herd, but we’ll see what she does in the coming months and let you know.

*The NSRM ewe in the SJM this month

Bighorn Presentations

In early March, we gave a bighorn presentation to all of the 3rd grade students at Amelia Earhart Elementary School, around 130 kids.  It is always fun talking with young, curious kids that are excited about wildlife like bighorn sheep!  In late March, we gave a presentation to members of The Springs in Rancho Mirage. A little quieter, less-excited group than the elementary school, but a great group nonetheless. If you would like a bighorn sheep presentation for your group, give us a call (760-346-7334) or email us (bi@bighorninstitute.org); we’d love to come talk to you! 

Member Hike Hiatus

Our last member hike of the season took place Wednesday, March 12nd and it was a great ending to another successful season. We saw 22 sheep including 3 lambs on this last hike! We’ve had a wonderful season of Member Hikes and saw sheep on every outing. We would love to have you join us when they resume in the fall. In the meantime, if you’re out hiking and see sheep, please log your sightings into Bighorn Institute’s project in iNaturalist.  It’s free and helps us keep track of the sheep.  For more information visit our website: www.BighornInstitute.org/inaturalist-project

Upcoming Event - Rancho Mirage Earth Day Celebration

The City of Rancho Mirage is hosting an Earth Day celebration on Tuesday, April 22nd from 9am-12pm at the Rancho Mirage Library and Bighorn Institute will have a booth there so come join us for this free event!  They’ll have exciting activities and giveaways and you can stop by our booth and learn about the sheep!  Hope to see you there!