Yellowstone's Northern Range - Greater Yellowstone Science ...

127
Counts and estimates of bighorn sheep in Yellowstone National Park, 1880-1970. (Source:
Barmore 1980.)
Actual caunL 3
Estimate
Data
Year Date of count Parkwide Northern Range Parkwide Northern Range Comments C source f
1880 Sheep were abundant.
1887 Found on all mountain ranges.
1897 200
1912 210 Estimate based on counts or close 2
observation and are very nearly correct.
1919 Mountain sheep were seen in about the 3
usual numbers.
1920 200 ".. .it is evident that our estimated number of 4
200 in the park is too low if anything. "
1922 250 "Sheep scab, the disease that threatened for 5
a time to extenninate our mountain sheep,
has practically disappeared and we have a
large, thriving herd of about 250 ... "
1923 233 300+ 6
1924 Winter 200 217 300 (Most or all of count was probably on North 7
Yellowstone winter range.)
1925 Winter & Spring 195 600 (Most or all of count was probably on North 8
Yellowstone winter range.)
1926 Winter & Spring 217 600 (Most or all of count was pro~ably on North 9
Yellowstone winter range.)
1927 Winter & Spring 346 650 (Most or all of count was probably on North 10
Yellowstone winter range.)
1928 Feb. 170 500 Known losses of 9 to hunters and 31 to 11
scabies mites and lungworm infections .
.. ... as determined by laboratory
examination." Known losses were believed
far short of actual losses during the year.
1929 120 120 b 12
1930 March 125 125 c 150 150 Increasing. 12
1931 April 101 101 c 150 150 Status much better than a few years ago. 13
1932 April 79 79 h 150 150 Sheep on some inaccessible peaks not 14
counted. (Probably those in the NE corner
of the park.) No change in status.
1933 ? 82 82" 150 150 Counted along with all other ungulates. 15
1934 March 14-16 125 125" 150 150 Status more favorable than last year. 16
1935 ? 126 126 200 200 Count thought to be more accurate than 17
others for a number of years.
1936 Dec. 118 118 200 200 Count didn't cover all the sheep winter 18
range.
1937 Mar. 2-5 175 175 c 195 195 One of the most accurate and complete 19
counts ever taken.
1938 Feb. 24·26 181 181" 200 200 No change in population status. Includes 6 20
on North Yellowstone winter range outside
the park.