Restoration of bighorn sheep metapopulations in and near 15 national parks: Conservation of severely fragmented species; Volume II, Synopsis of research findings

In 1991, the National Park Service (NPS) initiated a series of research studies to support an effort to restore bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) into 15 national parks in the Intennountain West and Colorado Plateau areas (Fig. 1). The Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey provided scientific advice and research coordination for the NPS restoration (Fig. 2).

The research studies were conducted by scientists from the Biological Resources Division of the USGS (fonnerly NBS) (11 research studies), university-based scientists (Univ. of Wyoming- 2 studies, University of Colorado- 1, Colorado State University- 2, University of California, White Mountain Center- 1, Northern Arizona University - 1, Montana State University - 1) and by state agency veterinarians: Drs. Beth Williams of Wyoming, Mike Miller of Colorado, and Terry Spraker of Colorado State University. Only the highlights of these research studies are presented below. Full research reports are available in Volume III of this series.