Understanding the Bighorn Sheep Decline in Southern Interior BC: An Investigation of Grassland Health and Secwépemc Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

This project focuses on a herd of wild bighorn sheep on Kamloops Lake in the Secwépemc Territory of southern interior BC. The first goal of the project is to monitor lamb survival and assess habitat conditions for the Kamloops Lake herd over two years. The second goal of the project is to document Secwépemc Traditional Ecological Knowledge about the Kamloops Lake herd to strengthen our understanding of the herd’s history and ecology. The results of our study will help our partners to develop strategies on how to protect bighorn sheep and their habitat. To carry out the study, we will monitor the Kamloops Lake herd and determine the proportion of lambs that survive to the age at which they are independent from their mothers. We will also assess the health of the grasslands within the home range and identify impacts and ways to restore habitat.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kara Lefevre

Student:

Partner:

Wild Sheep Society of BC

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Thompson Rivers University

Program: