Recent Findings:

• Recent modeling indicates the population estimate in 1995 was approximately 130 animals and it has been increasing since then to approximately 390 bighorn sheep in winter, 2010.  Assuming there are no improvements in habitat suitability, the population should change little until 2011 or 2012. 
• After 2012, the rate of population increase should decline as a result of lower habitat suitability in the East Fork of the San Gabriel where the benefits of an escaped wildfire in 1997 will expire.
• It is unknown if the Station Fire (2009) will benefit bighorn sheep because low-moderate severity fire burned only to the western edge of bighorn sheep habitat and it is unknown if that disturbance was sufficient to improve habitat suitability.  Observations of sheep west of their current range are very old and limited.