Summer Habitat Use by Mountain Sheep

Abstract

Summer habitat use by mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) was examined in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness (PRW), Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona, during 1982 and 1983. Diurnal sheep activity was concentrated in areas 550 m of escape terrain. Sheep selected nonprecipitous open oak (Quercus spp.) woodland associations. Slopes of 59-79% and elevations of 1,098-1,341 m were selected on upper slopes of drainages or on the tops of ridges or mountains. Ewe-juvenile groups selected more precipitous areas than ram groups and mixed groups. Groups with lambs used steeper and lower areas than groups without lambs. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 50(2):331-336 Mountain sheep habitat in the PRW of the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona, may be affected by extensive suburban development on privately owned land abutting the wilderness boundary. Development is 50.6 km of the most heavily used mountain sheep habitat. The impact of human encroachment on mountain sheep abundance, distribution, and habitat use should be monitored carefully. Our study provides information on mountain sheep habitat use prior to encroachment. Financial support was provided by the Estes Co. and the Univ. Arizona, School Renewable Nat. Resour. S. D. Seidler assisted in all phases of the fieldwork. S. W. Carothers, R. W. Mannan, J. E. Rodiek, W. W. Shaw, and V. C. Supplee provided ideas throughout the study and offered constructive comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. J. C. deVos, Jr., S. R. Lawry, R. C. Miller, and R. J. Olding of the Ariz. Game and Fish Dep. and P. W. Karp and C. E. Kennedy of the U.S. For. Serv. provided technical assistance. B. D. Leopold and M. C. Wallace provided statistical and technical ad-