{"id":2183207,"date":"2024-12-21T12:00:04","date_gmt":"2024-12-21T11:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2183207"},"modified":"2024-12-14T15:35:16","modified_gmt":"2024-12-14T14:35:16","slug":"bighorn-sheep-could-face-deadly-avalanches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/bighorn-sheep-could-face-deadly-avalanches\/","title":{"rendered":"Bighorn sheep could face deadly avalanches"},"content":{"rendered":"

As snow cover declines with a warming climate in the Sierra Nevada, bighorn sheep could actually be facing more deadly avalanches.<\/p>\n

This could have population impacts on the genetically distinct Sierra Nevada subgroup, which is only made up of 350 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis sierra).<\/p>\n

Researchers recently simulated future climates in the area to find out how avalanches may affect bighorn sheep.<\/p>\n

They found that while the climate will warm by the years 2050-2080, avalanches may actually increase.<\/p>\n

More specifically, they found that while snow cover will likely decrease in the lower elevations, the higher elevations may see an increase in snow, leading to more avalanches.<\/p>\n

Scientists will present their findings on this research at the American Geophysical Union on Dec. 10.<\/p>\n

This article<\/a> was first published by The Wildlife Society on 10 December 2024. Lead Image: Climate change could make deadly avalanches more common for bighorn sheep. Credit: California Department of Fish and Wildlife\/Steve Yaeger.<\/i><\/p>\n

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