Campaign_to_Save_the_Bighorn_Sheep Scouting_in_Arizona

boy scouts dedicate cabeza prieta nwr, 1939

in 1936, boy scouts in arizona mounted statewide campaign save bighorn sheep. scouts first became interested in sheep through efforts of major frederick russell burnham. burnham observed fewer 150 of these sheep still lived in arizona mountains. called george f. miller, scout executive of phoenix scout council, plan save sheep. burnham said,

i want save majestic animal, not because in danger of extinction, of more importance, day might provide domestic sheep strain save them disaster @ hands of yet unknown virus.

desert bighorn sheep

several other prominent arizonans join movement , save bighorns poster contest started in schools throughout state. burnham provided prizes , appeared in store windows across arizona. contest-winning bighorn emblem made neckerchief slides 10,000 boy scouts, , talks , dramatizations given @ school assemblies , on radio. national wildlife federation, izaak walton league, , audubon society joined effort.

these efforts led establishment of 2 bighorn game ranges in arizona: kofa national wildlife refuge , cabeza prieta national wildlife refuge. on january 18, 1939, on 1,500,000 acres (6,100 km) set aside , civilian conservation corp side camp set develop high mountain waterholes sheep. desert bighorn sheep official mascot arizona boy scouts.