Bighorn sheep and fire: seven case histories

Responses of seven bighorn sheep populations and habitats to prescribed fire and wildfire in southern British Columbia, Idaho, and Glacier National Park ranged from no influence to increase; interacting factors such as lungworm infection, livestock grazing, and reduction in forage overrode potential benefits of subsequent increases in production and nutritive content of forages. A list of factors to be considered before prescribed fire is used in bighorn habitats is provided.