Mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis) in the Sierra Nevada once were distributed from Jawbone Canyon to Sonora Pass. Central Sierra herds disappeared by 1880, probably because of overhunting, competition with domestic livestock for forage, and disease transmission from livestock. Efforts to reestablish sheep populations in the central Sierra began in 1983, soon after two other successful reintroductions in the southern Sierra. This effort was driven by a common goal uniting biologists from three federal agencies, one state agency, one university, and two diverse private interest groups. A formalized working group, sound data and management procedures, planning, and a supportive constituency within and outside the agencies provided the driving force to permit reintroduction.
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