The death of a bighorn sheep ram on the TransCanada Highway near Golden, B.C., is another devastating blow to the survival of its Kicking Horse Canyon herd, say wildlife experts.
The death Thursday evening of two-year-old ram Joey Ramone, named after the late lead singer of the punk band The Ramones, is the latest in a series of setbacks for the small herd and indicates the need for more wildlife fencing, said conservationist Brian Gustafson.
It was struck just east of the Park Bridge which spans the Kicking Horse River east of Golden, the very same spot where two other rams died last year, he said.
“It’s just kind of a reoccurring theme here, as much as we try to raise attention,” said Gustafson.
“This is where the sheep spend their summer, along that piece of habitat, so it’s where they’re most exposed.”
It’s possible the sheep cross the highway frequently to access a nearby mineral lick, he said.
The herd, he said, has been closely followed with collar monitors since 2019 and was down to as few as 11 animals since then.
But with the birth of lambs last spring, its population has risen to 20, said Gustafson.
Even so, the deaths of the rams, though not as crucial for the population’s sustainability as ewes, is a major concern given the need for male succession for a herd that doesn’t mix with other sheep populations, he said.
“Joey was the number-two ram and you have to have a ram old enough to succeed the lead ram,” said Gustafson.
“It’s a cumulative effect.”
There’s also the fear of multiple sheep being killed on the nearby CPKC tracks should they be attracted to a grain spill “which could really devastate the herd,” he said.
The ongoing attrition threatens the herd’s existence due to its small size and limited range, said wildlife biologist Clayton Lamb, who described it as the most northerly grouping in the Kootenays.
“Any time you talk about a population of animals in the double digits or 20, you’re talking about a population that’s certain to blink out unless something is done,” said Lamb.
“Demographically, the ram isn’t the most important piece of that herd but any individual begins to matter when you’ve got those small numbers.”
The animals are also faced with more natural causes of death such as at the hands of predators and disease, he said.
“Sheep have had a hard time mainly due to disease die-offs,” said Lamb.
“Some of (the herds) have come back but a lot haven’t recovered to what they used to be.”
Gustafson said he’s been working with the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on enhancing wildlife and motorist safety in the corridor which has resulted in “some really big wins, but it’s not enough.”
Slower speed limits aren’t the answer because so many drivers disregard them but fencing would likely be effective.
The ministry wasn’t able to respond to a request for comment Friday.