MOUNTAIN LION HUNTING SHEEP AND DEER IN JTNP IS SIGN OF HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM

Sometimes, nature finds a way. The Superintendent of Joshua Tree National Park says the presence of Mountain Lion in the park hunting Bighorn Sheep and Mule deer is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. In an interview with Z107.7 News, David Smith said that of the about 100 Bighorn Sheep that live in different areas of the national park, about 15 are collared to allow park staff to monitor their movements and migration to water sources and other sheep populations. Recently the motion indicator on the collars of three of the Bighorn Sheep stopped, revealing the animals had died. An investigation by park rangers revealed that the sheep had been killed by Mountain Lion. A fourth sheep is also suspected to have been predated by a Lion. While the death of the Sheep seems unfortunate, the good news is the Sheep are moving among separate herds, allowing for a better genetic balance, and the herds are being kept at a healthy overall population by natural predators. Smith said, “We will let nature take its course and continue to monitor the populations of sheep, Mule Deer, and Mountain Lions in Joshua Tree National Park.”