As the number of aoudad in Far West Texas continues to grow, and the population of mule deer declines, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Sul Ross State University’s Borderland Research Institute,  and other partners are working together to study the impact these exotic sheep may have on mule deer and desert bighorn.

06/13/23 - Aoudad, mule deer, bighorn sheep research underway in Far West Texas

While research on barbary sheep, or aoudad, is underway in Far West Texas, there are a few things we already know about the exotic species.

06/15/23 - Aoudad populations growing in Texas

Brought to Texas in the 1950s to expand hunting opportunities, aoudad are thriving in Far West Texas. And now, a multi-year, multi-partner research project is underway to determine how these exotic sheep from Africa are impacting our native mule deer and bighorn sheep populations.

06/14/23 - Studying Texas aoudad

In addition to studying the impacts exotic aoudad are having on mule deer in far west Texas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University are also examining the impacts aoudad have on our native bighorn sheep.

06/22/23 - TPWD, BRI studying aoudad, bighorn sheep in Far West Texas

Ninety percent of desert bighorn sheep who are infected with a bacteria called mycoplasma ovipneumoniae  (MOV) will die, and research has revealed that exotic aoudad, which are numerous in Far West Texas, can carry the disease.

To see how and if aoudad, or barbary sheep, can infect our native bighorn sheep, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Borderlands Research Institute have been hard at work studying aoudad.

06/23/23 -  Research proves aoudad can spread deadly bacteria to bighorn sheep

To protect Texas’ native bighorn sheep population, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University are studying methods to control the ever-growing exotic aoudad population in Far West Texas.

06/26/26 - Reducing aoudad population to protect desert bighorn sheep

Portions of Big Bend National Park will be temporarily closed to the public this week and next as the National Park Service works to control the non-native aoudad population in the park.

10/02/23 - Aoudad control efforts in Big Bend National Park

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New tracks tagged #aoudad