Description
The National Park Service intends to award a task agreement under a previously competed or single source justified award to promote the sustainability of desert bighorn sheep in the Mojave Desert. The project aims to enhance conservation and recreation opportunities associated with the desert bighorn sheep population, with a focus on Mojave National Preserve and including Death Valley National Park and adjacent lands. The recipient will design and carry out a study to inform current and future management decisions for desert bighorn sheep conservation in the Mojave Desert and across the Western U.S.
Some key aspects of the project include:
* Evaluating the interaction of desert bighorn sheep with man-made barriers
* Experimentally establishing new connections for desert bighorn sheep across those barriers
* Collaborating with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to capture, sample, and attach radio/GPS collars to bighorn sheep
* Analyzing fecal pellets to assess the presence and origins of bighorn sheep in the area
* Providing field support and logistical assistance for the research activities