A small group of Bighorn Sheep lives in the San Bernardino Mountains of California around the Lucerne Valley operations of Specialty Minerals Inc. Since these sheep live in isolation from others of their species, the California Department of Fish and Game and the employees at the Lucerne Valley Specialty Minerals Plant are cooperating to ensure the continuation of their health and habitat. The sheep often travel the quarry roads and benches and the quarry workers enjoy sharing the space with these animals. Any unusual activity or sightings are reported to the Department of Fish and Game.  

Once a year, the Lucerne Valley mine becomes the base camp for the Department of Fish and Game effort to tag, treat, and vaccinate the herd of Bighorn Sheep. This three-day event involves netting the sheep from a helicopter, giving them a general physical examination, testing and treating them for mites and diseases, and collaring them for monitoring. The sheep are not tranquilized—they are blindfolded to keep them calm. Their body temperature is constantly monitored, and they are released immediately if their temperature starts to rise, which indicates the stress level of the sheep.  

The annual studies have found that the Bighorn Sheep coexist nicely with the quarry operations. The quarry benches provide the sheep with escape routes from their natural enemy, the mountain lion. The sheep have adjusted to the activity of the quarry and are seen frequently, sometimes even sunning themselves on the roads. Water is available in this desert environment from the springs Specialty Minerals developed to provide water for the quarry, and reclamation activities increase the availability of preferred plants. The sheep seem to like the quarry, and the quarry workers definitely like sharing their workplace with the sheep.

Learn more

• "Monitoring the Bighorns" - Hillary Borrud (Victorville Daily Press; September 9, 2007)