A New Era of Action for Northern Wild Sheep
The Wild Sheep Foundation’s Thinhorn Sheep Summit IV, held May 5–7, 2026 in Prince George, British Columbia, marked a decisive shift from identifying challenges to equipping practitioners with concrete, science‑based tools for action. More than 65 in‑person attendees and 24 virtual participants gathered for two days of presentations, collaborative sessions, and knowledge exchange focused on the future of Dall’s and Stone’s sheep across Alaska, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and British Columbia. As WSF’s Thinhorn Program Lead Bill Jex put it, “This year’s Summit focused on those past accomplishments and associated science but then took that and formatted it into a suite of how‑to actions” .
From the outset, the Summit emphasized the accelerating environmental pressures facing thinhorn sheep. Climate and remote sensing specialists, and wildlife researchers, outlined how consistently warmer annual average temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, changing snowscapes, and increasingly volatile winters are reshaping alpine ecosystems. Additional studies highlighted the growing influence of freeze‑thaw cycles and rain-on-snow events, losses through avalanche activity, and changing snow density thresholds that can favour predators of thinhorn sheep. Presenters also focused on tools that can be used to better understand what responses we might see in thinhorn populations as a result of weather events. For example, NASA‑funded research has shown that fall snow depth was the strongest predictor of the next spring’s lamb:ewe ratios, with deeper snow reducing recruitment.
Habitat interventions formed another major theme. Presenters shared lessons from prescribed fire planning and post‑burn monitoring, and vegetation recovery following large‑scale wildfires. These sessions provided practical guidance for jurisdictions seeking to restore or enhance seasonal ranges, improve forage quality, or increase habitat resilience under future climate scenarios.
Human dimensions were equally prominent. Research on vehicle impacts along a remote industrial and recreational use road that bisected a migration route between summer and winter ranges, revealed that the amount of time the 10 collared, female Stone’s sheep took increased in the fall (~44 days) versus the time taken in spring (~25 days) with lambs at heal. This increase in time can be partly attributed to sheep ‘deflecting’ while attempting to cross (in spring 24 crossing attempts were made versus 32 in the fall). Delays in movement through low elevation habitats, away from escape terrain can increase vulnerability and predation risk. Stress levels (measured through fecal cortisol levels) in those sheep were also significantly higher when crossing the road, than when sheep were on summer and winter ranges, underscoring the need for targeted best management practices that mitigate negative effects during annual movements. Additional talks explored hunter perceptions, non‑consumptive effects of hunting and responses from sheep to hunters, and techniques cameras in very remote landscapes.
A recurring message throughout the Summit was the importance of integrating traditional knowledge, modern technology, and cross‑jurisdictional collaboration. The event brought together First Nations leaders, wildlife managers, outfitters, students, and conservation organizations—reflecting the shared responsibility for sustaining thinhorn populations. As Corey Mason, WSF COO, noted, “We all came together with an emphasis to do more for the wild sheep of Alaska, the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and British Columbia” .
By the Summit’s close, participants left not only with new science, but with practical frameworks, reference tools, and a renewed sense of collective purpose. In the spirit of the question posed at the first Summit—What can we do for thinhorn sheep?—the 2026 gathering offered clear, actionable answers, grounded in the best available knowledge and a commitment to the mountain landscapes that define these iconic northern ungulates.