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Behavioral Response Of Desert Bighorn Sheep To Human Harassment: A Comparison Of Disturbed And Undisturbed Populations, Michael M. King

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) response to human disturbance was evaluated in southeastern Utah from 1981-1983. Bighorn response was compared between the Red Canyon area, an area with relatively high levels of human disturbance, and the White Canyon area, an area with relatively low levels of human disturbance. Bighorn were deliberately harassed by vehicles and hikers and immediate response and distance fled were recorded. When bighorn remained in the presence of the harassing stimuli, actual time spent in and proportion of animals engaged in various behaviors were recorded to determine group wariness and activity budgets under harassed …