[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 14, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3020-S3021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FRATERNITY OF THE DESERT BIGHORN 50TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 50th 
anniversary of the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn in Southern Nevada.
  The Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn was established in 1964, and in 
partnering with local, State, and Federal wildlife organizations and 
agencies, they have played a vital role in the restoration of the 
iconic desert bighorn sheep in Nevada. These incredible animals are a 
symbol of our State's unique wildlife habitat, geography, and climate. 
In the Sloan Canyon and Gold Butte areas of Southern Nevada, ancient 
petroglyphs and rock art dating back thousands of years depict the 
bighorn sheep and tell the story of its important contributions to our 
State's history and culture. The desert bighorn is a noteworthy part of 
Nevada's mountainous landscapes and was officially named the State 
animal in 1973.
  Following westward expansion in the 1800s, bighorn sheep populations 
struggled to survive against the spread of disease from domestic 
livestock and the loss of water resources and habitat. By the 1960s, 
desert bighorn sheep populations, once in the tens of thousands in the 
United States, dropped to an estimated 6,700 to 8,100. However, the 
commitment of organizations like the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn 
to species restoration has helped to more than double the bighorn sheep 
population throughout the United States.

[[Page S3021]]

  The fraternity has worked hard to promote responsible management of 
the desert bighorn and its habitat. By building and maintaining 
hundreds of water development projects, fighting disease, and educating 
domestic sheep herders on the importance of maintaining strict 
separations between bighorn sheep and domestic herds, the fraternity 
has provided necessary water resources to Southern Nevada wildlife and 
ensured a healthy bighorn sheep population for future generations.
  I commend the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn on their 50th 
anniversary, and I wish them the best in their future endeavors.

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