Bighorn Sheep Winter Habitat Utilization Observations in the Many Glacier and Two Medicine Areas of Glacier National Park, 2000-2001
Dicus G. 2002. Bighorn Sheep Winter Habitat Utilization Observations in the Many Glacier and Two Medicine Areas of Glacier National Park, 2000-2001. NPS, Glacier National Park
Observations of bighorn sheep during 480 observation sessions conducted over the course of two winters (Jan-Apr of 2000 and 2001) in Glacier NP. Observation sessions occurred at vantage points along ten survey routes (see Figures 2 and 3), averaged 39 minutes in duration (range of 20-330 minutes), and amounted to 316.7 hours of total observation time. Within the Many Glacier study area, 246 observation sessions were completed, with 592 sheep group locations mapped. The average bighorn sheep group size observed at Many Glacier was 7.1 (range of 1-57 sheep). Within the Two Medicine study area, 234 observation sessions were completed, with 469 sheep group locations mapped. The average bighorn sheep group size observed at Two Medicine was 5.6 (range of 1-42 sheep). Over the course of two springs (May-Jun 2000 and 2001), 143 observation sessions were completed, with an average duration of 44 minutes (range of 20-170 minutes), and amounting to 100.9 hours of observation. Within the Many Glacier study area, 125 observation sessions were completed, with 206 sheep group locations mapped. The average group size observed at Many Glacier during spring was 6.8 sheep (range of 1-55). Within the Two Medicine study area, 18 observation sessions were completed, with 42 sheep group locations mapped. The average group size observed at Two Medicine during spring was 6.4 sheep (range of 1-28). From the winter (Jan-Apr) observation sessions, an analysis of unduplicated sheep counts indicated a minimum of 85 sheep on the Many Glacier winter range, and a minimum of 185 sheep on the Two Medicine winter range. At Many Glacier, sex/age ratios were 133 rams per 100 ewes, and 59 lambs per 100 ewes. At Two Medicine, there were 122 rams per 100 ewes, and 46 lambs per 100 ewes.
- Type
- Relational Database
- Authors
- Dicus, Gordon
- Date of Issue
- 2002
- Publisher
- NPS, Glacier National Park
- Units
- CRCO , GLAC
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis), Geographic Information System (GIS), Glacier National Park, habitat suitability model, logistic regression, Many Glacier valley, Montana, Two Medicine valley, Winter Range
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Mammals