Big Horn Sheep Analysis

Using GPS collar data of bighorn sheep on the north side of I-10 provided by Arizona Game and Fish Department, Wildlands Network completed a preliminary analysis of this data to determine barriers to connectivity and least cost path analyses, which correlated strongly with the crossing locations identified in the New Mexico Wildlife Corridors Action Plan.

This study is meaningful for bighorn sheep, who are especially vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and may be experiencing a reduction in genetic diversity due to their populations being bisected by the highway.