‹‹ Colorado Matters

Facing fatal runoffs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife works to keep bighorn sheep healthy and plentiful

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8min 21sec
Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife / Bill Vogrin
The official animal of Colorado, bighorn sheep are being monitored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife due to potentially fatal interactions with domesticated sheep.

No creature says “Colorado” like the bighorn sheep — after all, it’s been the state’s official animal for more than 60 years. Their regal presence has been a visual marvel and a mainstay here – and Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to make sure that’s the case for decades to come. Andy Holland, CPW's Big Game manager, says the organization is working to combat a spate of disease run off — with the infections coming from an unlikely source: domesticated sheep.