The Politics of Endangered Species
What Makes the List-and What Doesn???t

In the June 9, 2008 Issue of Newsweek Magazine, an article regarding the future of some of North America???s wildlife species and the politics of the Endangered Species Act were discussed.

The fact is, the 70,000 bighorn sheep of North America are not on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service???s list of Endangered animals as indicated on page 45. However, there is one small distinct population, commonly known as the Sierra Nevada bighorn, of about 400 animals that is listed as Endangered ??? but it is important that readers understand that the entire 70,000 is not Endangered.

Actually, the 70,000 plus bighorns throughout western North America have rebounded from historic lows of less than 15,000 in the mid 1970???s. Because of expensive and intense recovery efforts, mostly funded by citizens in the hunting community and organizations like the Wild Sheep Foundation, the bighorns are seeing a comeback. The biggest threats bighorns continue to face are a loss of suitable habitat and disease transmitted by domestic sheep and goats; that graze on our public lands within historic bighorn sheep habitat.

Thank you Newsweek for drawing attention to our wildlife resources

Neil Thagard
Director of Operations
Wild Sheep Foundation
Cody, Wyoming