Diel Activity of Female Desert Bighorn Sheep in Western Arizona

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Abstract
We studied diel activity of female desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) in the Little Harquahala Mountains, Arizona, from 1 July 1985 through 30 June 1986. The Little Harquahala Mountains did not contain free-standing water so we measured diel moisture content of key forage species each season to determine if bighorn sheep activity was related to plant moisture. Activity of bighorn sheep was divided into 4 behavior classes (bedding, standing, moving, and foraging) for diurnal hours, and 2 classes (active and nonactive) for nocturnal hours. Diurnal activity patterns were similar throughout the year. Nocturnal activity patterns were similar for all seasons except spring, when activity decreased (P = 0.003). Bighorn sheep were active a mean of 39 and 33% of any given hour during the day and night, respectively. Diurnal ambient temperatures and relative humidity were correlated (P .ltoreq. 0.05) with percent time bighorn sheep were active for all seasons. During the fall and winter bighorn sheep foraged 51% of the time. During spring and summer they rested 60% of the time. Moisture content of key forage species was .gtoreq.32% for each hour of the day for each season; we did not detect relationships between activity patterns of desert bighorn sheep and moisture content of plants.

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