Bighorn Institute

06/06/2026

This old boy is DOWN TO THE BONE on his right horn. All bighorn sheep have a bony core inside their hollow horn sheath. They have blood vessels in the horn sheath and they grew their entire lives; they do not shed their horns. This photo shows the many layers that make up a horn sheath so you can see it has degraded substantially. Eventually, he may lose that horn where the bone is exposed if he hits it hard enough. By that time, the tissue will be dead & he will be fine, just lopsided. There are a number of rams in the wild that have a broken off horn.

05/29/2026

A ram overlooks his vast range.

04/22/2026

Happening NOW at the Rancho Mirage library, Earth Day celebration! Come down and see us!

04/02/2026

*VIDEO*
Bighorn Institute’s Spring Fling is fast approaching and you don’t want to miss it! Bighorn Institute is the only local nonprofit working for the protection of our endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep, all with private funds.

04/01/2026

Come out and join us! Registration ends this Friday! Visit our website www.BighornInstitute.org/fundraisers

Many of you have asked us about visiting our Lost Creek Canyon Ranch, and this is your chance!

The Bighorn Institute of Palm Desert is a 501(c)-3 non-profit that has looked after our valley’s sheep for more than 40 years. It has always been privately funded by local residents and remains so today. We hosting the fundraiser below at the ranch and donating food for guests. There are a few spots left at a tax-deductible cost of $200 per person. If interested, please click the link and scroll down to reserve your spot. It will be a day you won’t forget.

https://www.bighorninstitute.org/fundraisers

RSVP required to attend.