Energetics, Survival, and Dispersal of Dall’s Sheep Rams Under Differing Harvest Management Strategies

Project ID: P14AC01780

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Fiscal Year: 2014

Initial Funding: $57,713

Total Funding: $118,913

Project Type: Research

Project Disciplines: Biological

National Park: Wrangell-St.Elias National Park and Preserve

Principal Investigator: Lohuis, Thomas

Agreement Technical Representative: Putera, Judy

Abstract: Approximately 25-35% of Alaska’s Dali’s sheep population (Ovis clalli dali,) occurs within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST). Protection of Dali’s sheep populations and habitat is specifically stated In WRST’s enabling legislation. Subsistence harvest of DalI’s sheep is allowed in the park and preserve under federal subsistence regulations, Sport harvest by Alaska residents and non-residents is also
permitted in the preserve and managed under State of Alaska sport hunting regulations. Prior to 1979, Alaska hunting regulations required all legally harvested Dali sheep rams to have horns % curl. By 1989, most Game Management Units (GMU) in Alaska had converted to a full-curl regulation based on the dominance related mortality (DRM) theory that the survival of young rams would be compromised in sheep populations when few dominant rams (/4 curl) are present. however, this hypothesis has never been dIrectly tested and remains a controversial issue. Differing state and federal Dali’s sheep harvest regulations associated with GMU’s in WRST provide an opportunity to
test the DMR theory. This project is a collaborative effort between the National Park Service (NPS) and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to gather data to evaluate the effects of selective harvest management strategies and their result on ram population structure. The specific objectives will be to investigate juvenIle (1h to Yz horn curl) Dali’s sheep ram survival and dispersal, and the energetic cost of juvenile rams during the rut as a function of ram population structure determined by the different harvest management regulations in place in WRST, This project will be conducted in two phases, and this Task Agreement provides financial assistance for the first year of data collection. NPS will be substantially involved In all aspects of the project, including study design, data collection,
data analysis, and writing of reports. This project will benefit the public by providing critical data needed to manage Dell’s sheep for consumptive and non-consumptive uses.