The Latest

A new restoration facility in western Nebraska could give wildlife managers a powerful tool to combat disease, rebuild struggling bighorn herds, and return sheep to suitable habitat. With support from the Wild Sheep Foundation, the project marks a new chapter in Nebraska’s decades-long effort to restore bighorn sheep. 

Wildlife biologist Christina Wilson shares how her conservation work in the Florida Keys studying mosquitoes led to her apply for the Women Hunt program. Her experience changed how she sees food, land, and confidence. Dana and Christina discuss protecting fragile habitat, ethical hunting, processing game, and the sisterhood that helped Christina step outside her comfort zone.

What does the future of wild sheep conservation look like—and how do you build a plan to get there? Sheep Fever co-host Gray N. Thornton sits down with WSF conservation staff and biologists Corey Mason, Kevin Hurley, Kurt Alt, and Bill Jex to unpack Conservation Vision 2030.

Northwest Montana’s Ural/Tweed bighorns once numbered 150–200 animals. Today, this native Rocky Mountain Trench herd is estimated at roughly 40 sheep. Highway mortality, shrinking habitat, predation, and isolation all threaten its future—but targeted conservation actions could give the herd a path back.

The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is continuing its commitment to wild sheep with a $150,000 grant supporting WSF’s Grant-In-Aid Program for fiscal year 2026–27. Over eight years, the Outdoor Fund has contributed $926,000 to advance wild sheep conservation projects across North America. 

As the Wild Sheep Foundation approaches its 50th anniversary, Chairman Kyle Stelter is focused on what comes next. He joins Keith Balfourd to discuss ten priorities for his two-year term, building on a decade of momentum and advancing a clear goal: more wild sheep on more landscapes.

FACE represents 7 million hunters across Europe, promoting sustainable hunting and conservation. In this episode of Sheep Fever, WSF and FACE discuss their partnership and shared conservation efforts in Europe and North America.

In Part II of Sheep Fever’s conversation with Matt Besko, the discussion turns to hunting culture around the world and what sets North America apart. From European traditions to modern technology’s influence, they explore whether hunting’s cultural roots are fading—and why that matters.

Shane Mahoney joins us for a timely discussion on the future of hunting and its role in conservation. Exploring shifting public attitudes, wildlife management challenges, and the importance of hunter engagement, he examines what it will take to ensure hunting remains a valued part of conservation for generations to come.

Conservation success is built on strong partnerships, visionary leadership, and a commitment to solving challenges before they become crises. Thanks to an extraordinary gift from the Liautaud Family Foundation and the dedicated efforts of the Utah Wild Sheep Foundation (UWSF), significant progress is underway to improve and expand critical water infrastructure for wild sheep across Utah.

In March, the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society (ADBSS) tackled the New Water Mountains #1 project, a much-needed redevelopment of an older catchment struggling to contend with drought and wildlife demand and forcing the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) to haul water frequently.

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) and its Chapters and Affiliates collectively pledged $213,500 during the 18th Chapter & Affiliate Summit, held recently in Grand Junction, Colorado.  The funds will be used to support a major cheatgrass treatment and habitat restoration effort within Wyoming’s Mullen Fire burn scar.