Desert Bighorn Sheep of the River Mountains

Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis) – Range throughout the River Mountains an are often seen on or next to the trail.  Rams grow to 5 to 6 feet long, ewes grow 4 to 5 feet; study, muscular build; brown to tan with white belly, rump, muzzle and eye patches. 

Three Bighorn Ram sheep near the trail - photo by Paul G. 112408

Rams have massive horns that grow over and behind the ears in a C-shaped curl.  Horns are permanent and grow incrementally year by year.  It may take 7 to 8 years for a ram to acquire a full curl. Ewes have a shorter, more slender horns that curve gently back. 

The River Mountains are perfect habitat;  for the bighorn sheep occupy rough, precipitous terrain near sources of permanent water.  Bands follow regular feeding routes and maintain bedding grounds that may be used for years.  The desert bighorn sheep is Nevada’s state mammal.  

The sheep population in the River Mountains is estimated at 200+.  In order to protect this herd of sheep the BLM has designated a good portion of the Northwest mountain range as an “Area of critical Environmental Concern” (ACEC) to help protect this productive herd of bighorn sheep.  Each year to keep this herd in balance the National Wildlife Service culls the herd by capturing sheep and re-locating into other mountain ranges in Nevada and elsewhere in the west. 

RJ photo - Bighorn sheep capture fall 2007 in the River Mountains

The symbol or image used to identify the River Mountains Loop Trail is an image of a Bighorn Sheep on a mountain with the sun rising behind or the moon.  The sheep image is copied from the local rock art symbol for bighorn sheep used by Native Americans. This logo is used on maps, trail kiosks, trail monuments etc. 

River Mountains Loop Trail logo - Bighorn sheep on Mountain with Sun rising behind

Photo Gallery Big Horn Sheep: 

Three Bighorn Ram sheep near the trail – photo by Paul G. 112408

RJ photo – Bighorn sheep capture fall 2007 in the River Mountains

River Mountains Loop Trail logo – Bighorn sheep on Mountain with Sun rising behind

Desert Tortoise

Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizi) - Nevada’s official state reptile, is the only naturally occurring tortoise in the Mojave Desert and is on the U.S. fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species List. Over 6 million acres within the Mojave Desert, including over 1 million acres in southern Nevada, have been designated as critical habitat for the desert tortoise(areas that require special consideration and protection). This special consideration includes construction of tortoise fences in areas where highways or construction sites conflict with the tortoise life-style.
Desert tortoise are quiet and unassuming creatures, they spend most of their lives underground in winter dens and summer burrows where they are protected from the temperature extremes of the Mojave Desert. They are long-lived vegetarians, and are so efficient in their water usage that they can survive for more than a year without access to “free” water ( water derived from sources other than the plants that they eat). 

Desert Tortoise on trail by john

The desert tortoise population has been decreasing in recent years throughout the western Mojave Desert.  One of the major factors in this decline is thought to be destruction of tortoise habitat by urban development.  This is especially critical in areas surrounding Las Vegas where the city is rapidly expanding into prime tortoise habitat. 

If you are lucky enough to see one of these elusive desert dwellers, DON’T TOUCH OR PICK IT UP.   They tend to lose water if picked up, to the tortoise it could be fatal to lose this stockpiled water. 

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Note:  The River Mountains is home to a large population of Desert Tortoise. The River Mountains Loop Trail passes through prime tortoise habitat and they are often seen near or on the trail.

White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel

White-tailed antelope ground squirrel

The White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus) is gray with a narrow white stripe along each side.  The underside of its tail is white and is carried over its back.  One of the few small mammals to be active in the heat of the day, this animal is superbly adapted for desert life: 

• It is omnivorous(feeding on both plants & animals) and prefers water-filled plants and insects.
• It tolerates a nine-degree fluction (100-109 degrees F) in body temperature as it moves in and out of the sun.
• It can salivate heavily and spread mositure over its neck and cheeks for evaporative cooling effect.
• It can lose heat by conduction when it retires to the shade or is burrow and flattens itself against the ground.
• It will postion itself parallel to the Sun’s rays and shade its body with its tail.

Editors note:  These guys in urban areas can become real pests digging up golf course greens and of course your lawn at home.

Roadrunner – Beep….Beep

Greater Roadrunner – A member of the cuckoo family, the greater Roadrunner (Geococcyz californianus) is zygodactylous or two toes pointing forward and two backwards.  It has heavily streaked plumage, a bristly crest, short rounded wings an upward tilted tail, and long legs.  It rarely flies and has been clocked running at speeds up to 17 miles per hour.  It is said to have gotten its name in the Old West from running ahead of horse-drawn carriages.  Its diet of lizards, insects and spiders, small rodents, birds, and snakes is supplemented with occasional fruits and seeds.

Roadrunner - Lizard for lunch - file photo

Tarantula Spiders

Tarantula - These spiders have hairy,brown to black bodies, and a leg span that can exceed 4 inches.  Despite their intimidating appearance, they are generally non-aggressive and will avoid confrontation if possible.  north American desert tarantulas do have venom, but the effect on a human is generally equivalent to a bee sting.

Tarantula on trail 102409

For most of the year tarantulas are solitary creatures that seldom move far from their burrows to hunt lizards, insects and other arthropods.  They are most likely to be seen on summer nights when males are out and about searching for mates.  The mortality rate for mature males is high.  Those who manage to survive the search for a female will most likely be eaten by her soon after mating.  Females, who tend to stick close to the home burrow, may live for 20 years or more.

Desert Kit Fox – kit fox

 

 

 

Desert Kit Fox NPS file photo

Desert Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis) – The smallest of foxes, the Desert Kit fox is about 30 inches from nose to tip of tail.  It has very large ears and is gray and buff colored with a black-tipped tail.  The bottoms of its fee are covered with fur to faciltate travel on sandy soil.  Mostly nocturnal, the fox hunts rodents, lizards, birds, and insects. (the ocasional house cat).

NOS - Desert Kit fox file photo

Habitat -Likes open desert, on cresote bush flats, and amongst sand dunes if any.  The Kit Fox is almost exclusively carnivorous.  They are will adapted to desert living seldom needing water to drink. They get most their water from the food they eat, dining mostly on the Merriam’s kangaroo rat. They also like jack rabbits and desert cottontails.  Kit foxes are active at night and stay in dens during the heat of the day.

 Note: It is rare to see one of these guys along the trail, but they are out there. The only one I have seen was a road kill, I wore his tail on my hiking hat for awhile.

 

Gambel’s Quail

Gambel’s quail – (Callipepla gambelii)  have plump, stocky bodies, rounded wings, and prominent head plumes.  The name Callipepla comes from the Greek kalli ( beautiful) and peplos (robe).  The body is gray above and buff below, with streaked sides. Males have a black face and throat and a white headband.

These birds spend most of their time on the ground, often near washes and springs.  At night they roost in low branches of shrubs or trees.  They are generally gregarious and form coveys of 20 or more in fall and winter.

Gambles Quail male file photo 2009

 These Quail can be seen along the trail early mornings if one is quiet. Located in washes and areas where water can be found. They are fun to watch and they have a series of calls they make to each other.

 

 

COYOTES

Coyote Howling file photo 2009

Nov. 16, 2009 – Coyotes - (Canis latrans) are grizzled gray or reddish-gray with buff underparts a bushy tail with a black tip, and prominent ears.  They are excellent runners, with cruising speeds of 25 to 35 miles per hour and short bursts of up to 40 miles per hour.

Extremely intelligent and adaptable, the coyote is expanding its range despite loss of traditional habitat and human hunting pressures.  Today the coyote can be found in desert, grassland, mountain and suburban environments as far north as Alaska and as far south as Central America.

The coote is an opportunistic hunter employing a variety of methods to obatain food. It patientl stalks and pounces on small mammals. It has trememdous endurance and can simply chase prey until it is worn out. Where the food supply is predominantly small animals, it hunts alone or in a breeding pairs, while in the presence of large prey such as deer, it will hunt in packs. Coyotes will also make do with insects, lizards, carrion, fruit, and even pine nuts (grass seeds).

Coyotes are usually heard between dusk and dawn. Barks and yelps followed by drawn-out howls serve to announce location, strenghtn social bonds, and reunite separated members of a band.

NOTE: The above definition of coyotes comes from a Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication called “Geologic tours in the Las Vegas Area”.

NO DUMPING….?

 

"No Dumping" says it all....?

Nov. 16, 2009 – Cartoon says it all…..It is what it is…!   We in the trail business do have a sense of humor, sometimes.  To bad dogs can’t read, because dog owners sure can’t.  On a recent hike to pick up trash along the trail from a trail head all I found was piles and piles of dog crap along the trail.  The responsible dog owner picks up after his dog then dumps it in a trash can at the trail head.   “Pack it in…Pack it out!”    There is another cartoon out there from the “Far-Side” I think….shows a bear putting a sewer pipe from the woods/forrest through a side window into a house and giving the signal to the pipeline operator(another bear) to turn it on…

Then there is the dog owner who picks up his dogs business in a bag (thank you); but then leaves it along side the trail???@#@#$  Why?    Or how about the 16oz soda cup or Grande Starbucks cup found sitting 1-mile in from the trail head? You drank it walking here when it was full and heavy, why not cary it back light and empty?  “Leave No Trace” that you were here .

 

Wildlife – Brown Tarantula on Trail Saturday

Oct. 24, 2009 – While doing our trail watch hours on the trail Saturday we got to see a fair sized ” Brown Tarantula” on the trail.  We watched him for a while and made sure he go off the trail before heading back to the trailhead.  The sighting took place near MM 13 on the River Mountains Loop Trail within Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Here is a couple of photos:

Tarantula & Trail Watch hat photo by John 102409