Cardiac and Behavioral Responses of Mountain Sheep to Human Disturbance

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Abstract
Telemetered heart rates (HR) and behavioral responses of mountain sheep (O. canadensis canadensis) reacting to human disturbance in the Sheep River Wildlife Sanctuary, southwestern Alberta [Canada], were recorded. Cardiac and behavioral responses of sheep (4 ewes, 1 ram) to an approaching human were greatest when the person was accompanied by a dog or approached sheep from over a ridge. Reactions to road traffic were minimal as only 8.8% of vehicle passes elicited HR responses. No reactions to helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft were observed at distances exceeding 400 m from sheep. Responses to disturbance were detected using HR telemetry that were not evident from behavioral cues alone. Mean duration of the HR response (138.6 s) was not greater (P > 0.05) than the mean period of the behavioral reaction when sheep were alert or withdrawing from harassing stimuli (112.4 s). Use of HR telemetry in harassment research is discussed.