More than 100 stakeholders met May 15 at Sul Ross State University for a full-day symposium examining the sharp decline of desert bighorn sheep in West Texas, with disease and invasive species identified as primary threats.
Hosted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Borderlands Research Institute (BRI), Texas Bighorn Society, and Wild Sheep Foundation, the event—Managing Desert Bighorn Sheep in Texas: Challenges of the 21st Century—centered on the spread of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi), a respiratory pathogen linked to population crashes of more than 50 percent in several herds across the region.
Participants included state and federal biologists, landowners, veterinarians, university researchers, and conservation organizations from across the United States. The discussion focused on the disease’s impact, the role of exotic aoudad in transmission, and the challenges of managing wildlife on rugged, privately owned terrain.
“This isn’t a simple issue,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, BRI director and Sul Ross associate provost of research and development, who served as emcee. “It’s ecological, biological, economic—and personal for those of us who care about West Texas.”
Dr. Justin French, a wildlife biologist with BRI, presented aerial survey data showing nearly 8,000 aoudad in the Chinati Mountains—about one animal for every 40 acres. “We’re likely looking at a six-figure aoudad population across the Trans-Pecos,” French said. “That level of abundance, combined with their ability to transmit M. ovi, poses a serious risk to native bighorns. If we want to see bighorns persist in Texas, aggressive aoudad management is going to have to be part of the conversation.”
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Paul Foster opened the symposium by stressing the importance of cooperation. “The threat posed by disease is very real and it’s urgent,” Foster said. “No agency, no organization or landowner can solve this alone. Collaboration is the only way.”
TPWD Executive Director Dr. David Yoskowitz closed the day by urging immediate action. “We can’t wait for perfection. We have to move forward using the best available science, and we need partners, resources, and sustained commitment. We have that in this room—so let’s get to work.”
The symposium emphasized the need for collaborative, science-based strategies to protect desert bighorn sheep and the landscapes they inhabit. BRI said it remains committed to advancing research and management solutions for West Texas wildlife.
More information is available at bri.sulross.edu/desert-bighorn-sheep-symposium-2025.
Desert Bighorn Sheep Image by Chase Fountain
