Distribution and Trans-Highway Movements of Desert Bighorn Sheep in Northwestern Arizona
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US93 Bighorn Sheep Study: Distribution and Trans-Highway Movements of Desert Bighorn Sheep in Northwestern Arizona Final Report 576 Prepared by: Ted McKinney and Thorry Smith Arizona Game and Fish Department Research Branch 2221 West Greenway Road Phoenix, AZ 85023 January 2007 Prepared for: Arizona Department of Transportation 206 South 17th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85007 In cooperation with U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration The Arizona Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration provided funding for this research. The research team thanks AGFD personnel J. Ng for field assistance in monitoring track beds and conducting ground surveys, and K. Bristow and M. Crabb for assistance in collecting radiocollars following drop-off. The research team also thanks J. Barnes, D. Fletcher, and C. Velez (National Park Service) for field assistance. N. Dodd, J. Gagnon, and S. Boe (AGFD) provided analytical assistance. Helicopter pilots M. Brinkworth and N. Lopez (Papillon Helicopters) and S. Sprague (AGFD) assisted with captures. AGFD pilots E. Cash, B. Coffman, B. David, S. Sunde, and D. Hunt assisted with aerial telemetry. D. Conrad and L. Phoenix (AGFD) were net- gunners during captures, and J. Wills and K. Morgan (AGFD) assisted with captures and recovery of bighorn mortalities. G. Erickson (AGFD) and C. Largent (National Park Service) also provided valuable information during the study. C. O’Brien and R. Schweinsburg (AGFD) provided valuable editorial review of this report. The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Arizona Department of Transportation or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Trade or manufacturers’ names which may appear herein are cited only because they are considered essential to the objectives of the report. The U.S. Government and the State of Arizona do not endorse products or manufacturers. This report has several illustrations. Color versions of these illustrations are available on the version published on theArizona Department of Transportation’s internet site. Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA-AZ-07-576 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date JANUARY, 2007 US93 BIGHORN SHEEP STUDY: Distribution and Trans- 6. Performing Organization Code Highway Movements of Desert Bighorn Sheep in Northwestern Arizona 7. Author 8. Performing Organization Report No. Ted McKinney and Thorry Smith 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Arizona Game and Fish Department Research Branch 11. Contract or Grant No. 2221 W. Greenway Road JPA04-032T / KR04- Phoenix, AZ 85023 0104TRN 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13.Type of Report & Period Covered Arizona Department of Transportation FINAL REPORT 206 S. 17th Avenue Februay 2004 – December 2006 Phoenix, AZ 85007 14. Sponsoring Agency Code ADOT Project Manager: Estomih Kombe 15. Supplementary Notes Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration 16. Abstract Desert bighorn sheep were monitored via satellite telemetry, ground observations, and track beds between 2004 and 2006, primarily to determine distribution and movements relative to mileposts (MP) 3 to 17 of U.S. Highway 93 in the Black Mountains of northwestern Arizona. Bighorns were distributed and moved throughout the study area, but locations of trans-highway movements were not random. Construction of a highway bypass structure between MP 0 and 3 had no apparent effects on permeability of the right- of-way corridor to bighorns. Bighorns concentrated trans-highway movements in the area of proposed highway realignments between MP 3 and 17 at five locations. The research team identified five continuous, linear, elevated guideways (ridgelines) in this area where bighorns concentrated trans-highway movements. Specifically, these ridgelines were located near MP 3.3, 5.1, 7.7, 12.2, and 15.3. Eighty-two percent of highway crossings between MP 3 and 17 occurred near ridgelines at MP 3.3, 5.1, and 12.2, and the research team concluded highway crossing structures at these locations likely would promote highway permeability at a level ensuring genetic heterogeneity and vigor of the resident desert bighorn sheep population. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement 23. Registrant's Seal Arizona, desert bighorn sheep, Document is available to the distribution, Ovis canadensis, trans- U.S. public through the highway movements, U.S. Highway 93, National Technical wildlife Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161 19. Security Classification 20. Security Classification 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 66 SI* (MODERN METRIC) CONVERSION FACTORS APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS TO SI UNITS APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS FROM SI UNITS Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol LENGTH LENGTH in inches 25.4 millimeters mm mm millimeters 0.039 inches in ft feet 0.305 meters m m meters 3.28 feet ft yd yards 0.914 meters m m meters 1.09 yards yd mi miles 1.61 kilometers km km kilometers 0.621 miles mi AREA AREA 2 2 2 2 in square inches 645.2 square millimeters mm mm Square millimeters 0.0016 square inches in 2 2 2 2 ft square feet 0.093 square meters m m Square meters 10.764 square feet ft 2 2 2 2 yd square yards 0.836 square meters m m Square meters 1.195 square yards yd ac acres 0.405 hectares ha ha hectares 2.47 acres ac 2 2 2 2 mi square miles 2.59 square kilometers km km Square kilometers 0.386 square miles mi VOLUME VOLUME fl oz fluid ounces 29.57 milliliters mL mL milliliters 0.034 fluid ounces fl oz gal gallons 3.785 liters L L liters 0.264 gallons gal 3 3 3 3 ft cubic feet 0.028 cubic meters m m Cubic meters 35.315 cubic feet ft 3 3 3 3 yd cubic yards 0.765 cubic meters m m Cubic meters 1.308 cubic yards yd NOTE: Volumes greater than 1000L shall be shown in m3. MASS MASS oz ounces 28.35 grams g g grams 0.035 ounces oz lb pounds 0.454 kilograms kg kg kilograms 2.205 pounds lb T short tons (2000lb) 0.907 megagrams mg Mg megagrams 1.102 short tons (2000lb) T (or “metric ton”) (or “t”) (or “metric ton”) TEMPERATURE (exact) TEMPERATURE (exact) ºF Fahrenheit 5(F-32)/9 Celsius temperature ºC ºC Celsius temperature 1.8C + 32 Fahrenheit ºF temperature or (F-32)/1.8 temperature ILLUMINATION ILLUMINATION fc foot candles 10.76 lux lx lx lux 0.0929 foot-candles fc fl foot-Lamberts 3.426 candela/m2 cd/m2 cd/m2 candela/m2 0.2919 foot-Lamberts fl FORCE AND PRESSURE OR STRESS FORCE AND PRESSURE OR STRESS lbf poundforce 4.45 newtons N N newtons 0.225 poundforce lbf lbf/in2 poundforce per 6.89 kilopascals kPa kPa kilopascals 0.145 poundforce per lbf/in2 square inch square inch SI is the symbol for the International System of Units. Appropriate rounding should be made to comply with Section 4 of ASTM E380 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................... 1 II. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 3 III. STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................ 7 IV. DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES ..................................................................... 9 A. CAPTURES ................................................................................................... 9 B. MONITORING ............................................................................................ 10 C. HIGHWAY CROSSINGS ........................................................................... 10 D. HOME RANGE ........................................................................................... 10 E. TRACK BEDS ............................................................................................. 10 F. GROUND OBSERVATIONS...................................................................... 11 G. ESCAPE TERRAIN AND SLOPE.............................................................. 11 H. DATA ANALYSIS...................................................................................... 11 V. RESULTS ................................................................................................................... 13 A. CAPTURES ................................................................................................. 13 B. HIGHWAY CROSSINGS ........................................................................... 13 C. HOME RANGE ........................................................................................... 22 D. TRACK BEDS............................................................................................. 22 E. MORTALITY............................................................................................... 22 F. GROUND OBSERVATIONS...................................................................... 24 G. ESCAPE TERRAIN AND SLOPE.............................................................. 26 VI. DATA EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS............................................................... 29 A. MP 0–3......................................................................................................... 34 B. MP 3–17 ......................................................................................................