The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced on April 1 that its 2025 bighorn sheep survey recorded a total of 378 bighorn sheep in the badlands of western North Dakota, marking an increase of 8% from the previous year and surpassing the five-year average by 10%. This represents the fifth record count in six years for the department.
The findings are significant as they highlight ongoing efforts to monitor and conserve wildlife populations in the state. The department counted 104 rams, 234 ewes, and 40 lambs during this year’s survey. These numbers do not include approximately 40 bighorn sheep located in Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s North Unit or those introduced to Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in 2020.
Population growth was mainly observed in the northern badlands, which saw an increase of 8% from last year and reached its highest recorded level. In contrast, the southern badlands population remained near its lowest since reintroduction efforts began there in 1966. “Adult rams were near record numbers, but the ewe count surpassed the previous record by an impressive 14%,” said Wiedmann. “Lamb recruitment and winter survival of lambs were both unfortunately well below average.”
Wiedmann also said that several lambs showed signs of pneumonia during summer surveys, likely contributing to lower recruitment rates this year. According to Department veterinarian Logan Weyand, it is common for episodes of low lamb survival when populations are exposed to certain pathogens: “We know from annual disease testing that the state’s population of bighorn sheep has not cleared bacteria introduced in 2014 that predisposes bighorn lambs to pneumonia, so highly variable rates of lamb recruitment in recent years are not surprising.”
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department conducts late summer counts followed by March recounts as part of their management strategy. The department promotes community engagement through hunter education courses and wildlife outreach programs designed to foster conservation awareness according to its official website. It focuses on protecting fish and wildlife populations as well as their habitats for public use according to its official website.
In addition, it operates statewide managing wildlife habitats according to its official website, collaborates with landowners through programs like Private Land Open To Sportsmen for habitat protection according to its official website, provides licenses for hunting, fishing, boating along with educational initiatives according to its official website, and specializes broadly in conservation management according to its official website.
