Population Characteristics of Free-Ranging Barbary Sheep in Texas

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Abstract
Population characteristics of A. lervia were investigated 20 yr after the 1957-1958 release of 44 animals into Palo Duro Canyon, Texas. The findings suggested: a minimum population density of 0.35-1.57 Barbary sheep/km2; that parturition was distributed over much of the year with about 70% of all births occurring in March and April; an adult sex ratio of 20-40 males:100 females; and that juveniles and subadults comprise about 30% of the population, adult males 20%, and adult females 50%. The survival rate from birth to 1 yr of age approximated 35%, was about 77%/year for males from 1-3.5 yr of age, and was estimated to average 55%/yr for males from 3.5-10.5 yr of age. The high variability noted for most population statistics, which is consistent with the variability seen in other phases of Barbary sheep biology, has probably resulted from the stochastic conditions of the arid and semi-arid environments Barbary sheep inhabit.