Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are one of the mountain range’s most fascinating animals, and one of the most endangered mammals of North America. The Committee’s field seminar, Living on the Edge: Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep in the Mono Basin, is an introduction to the biology and conservation issues of these rare and elusive mammals that so enthralled John Muir.
Living on the Edge: Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep in the Mono Basin • September 6–7 • $180 per person/$165 for members • sign up here
Instructor John Wehausen has studied bighorn sheep intensively for 40 years, gaining insights into their behavior and the complicated issues surrounding their protection and conservation. He leads the group into the Mono Basin high country in search of the two herds that live in the mountains above Mono Lake, combining hiking with breaks along the way to discuss aspects of the bighorns’ story.
The sheep can be difficult to spot, but John and his team of researchers have radio-collared many sheep over the years and John can often find herds by scanning the rocky slopes for signals transmitted from those collars. As a result, participants have seen bighorn sheep during this seminar 14 out of the last 15 years—if you’ve always wanted to see bighorn in the wild, this is the field seminar for you. Please be aware that this seminar involves very strenuous hiking at the 10,000-foot elevation and above.
Living on the Edge: Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep in the Mono Basin • September 6–7 • $180 per person/$165 for members • sign up here.