VIRGINIA
TECH WILDLIFE SCIENCES PROFESSOR HERDS
A SHEEP EXPEDITION
BLACKSBURG,
Sept. 16, 2002 -- Michael Vaughan, Virginia
Tech's wildlife sciences professor in
the College of Natural Resources, has
turned the process of counting sheep
before falling asleep into a science.
In an effort to determine population
density, lamb production, and survival
rates of the Grand Canyon bighorn sheep
population, Vaughan spends four weeks
a year rafting down the Colorado River
taking scientific counts of sheep.
Vaughan
uses a land-based population research
technique to look at the age and sex
distribution of the Grand Canyon's bighorn
sheep. This lamb-to-ewe ratio gives
Vaughan an idea of how well reproduction
is going for a given year. "Basically,
I count and estimate the lamb-to-ewe
ratio in April right after they are
born," explains Vaughan. "Then, I come
back three-to-six months later and do
a recount of the area." This data provides
Vaughan with an analysis of the animals'
survival rates, which is critical information
for wildlife managers.
The
research requires a two-week long rafting
trip twice a year down the Colorado
River. He, along with participating
Virginia Tech graduate students, survey
the 200-mile stretch by land, followed
by a helicopter count. This method helps
Vaughan figure in any miscalculations
or errors in his estimates.
"Prior
to our research, there had always been
strict helicopter restrictions in the
Grand Canyon," explains Vaughan. "As
a result, the National Park Service
had no information on the Grand Canyon's
sheep population." While the restrictions
are still in place, the Park Service
allowed Vaughan's research team to fly
low enough in the Canyon to count sheep.
It was not very difficult to find graduate
students willing to participate in this
research project. "We spent the days
hiking up the surrounding canyons in
search of hidden sheep," adds Virginia
Tech fisheries and wildlife sciences
graduate student, Daniel Lee. "The nights
were spent camping under the stars."
A group of 18-20 other scientists joined
Vaughan on the rafting trip. Those researchers
were doing a Mexican Spotted Owl search,
mule/deer pellet surveys, and frog and
lizard surveys.
Vaughan
received funding from the National Park
Service and the United States Geological
Survey. The USGS serves the nation by
providing reliable scientific information
to describe and understand the earth;
minimize loss of life and property from
natural disasters; manage water, biological,
energy, and mineral resources; and enhance
and protect the quality of life.
