Photojournalist Linda Dunger: Nevada’s Virginia Range Desert Bighorn

Submitted article & photography from Mason Valley Photojournalist Linda Dunger, March 2025

Since we have been spotting Desert Bighorn Sheep along USA Parkway this past year, I reached out to Nevada Department of Wildlife Biologist, Carl Lackey, for a few interesting facts about the translocation of the sheep to the Virginia Range over a decade ago.

Meetings and the planning stages for the Bighorn move began in August of 2009.  2 guzzlers sites were chosen at the time to provide water with a storage capacity of 7500 gallons each.

Between October 29 and November 3, 2011, 42 sheep were translocated after capture from two separate areas.  Between April 30 and May 3, 2012, 11 mature rams were translocated from Boulder City to the area. 

Linda Dunger on February 20, 2025: “Coming down the south side of USA Parkway this afternoon, spotted this “family” of bighorn sheep. We were on the opposite side of the highway, and they were up the hill.”

One interesting fact about the rams – after release one ram apparently crossed the Truckee River and was spotted at Interstate 80 and Vista Blvd trying to reach the grass at McDonalds.

An aerial survey in August 2022 counted 78 rams, 100 ewes and 17 lambs.  So keep your eyes peeled (not if you’re the driver) when traveling USA Parkway.  You may get to see a sheep or two.