SAVE THE VAIL BIGHORNS
TOGETHER, WE Can SAVE THE VAIL BIGHORNS.
TOGETHER, WE Can BUILD EMPLOYEE HOUSING.
ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO LOSE FOR THE OTHER TO WIN.
TOGETHER, WE CAN DO BOTH.
The Bighorn Sheep Initiative is a community driven initiative to save the Gore Range Bighorn Sheep and their habitat. Our mission is to work alongside wildlife conservation organizations to present science based information specific to the Gore Range S2 Bighorn Sheep Herd in an effort to educate and inform the public, build awareness of the current threat to their habitat, and raise funds necessary to bridge the gap between the valuation of the Booth Heights parcel, and the current funds available for the land purchase.
The Vail Bighorn Initiative has partnered with the Wild Sheep Foundation to ensure all donations are 100% tax-deductible. To support this effort, click DONATE NOW and choose Vail Bighorn from the fund menu. 100% of funds donated to this effort directly benefit the Vail Bighorn Initiative.
ABOUT THE VAIL BIGHORNS
AN ICONIC HERD AT RISK OF FOREVER LOSING THEIR HABITAT UNLESS WE ACT NOW.
Known locally as the "Vail Bighorns" due to the close proximity of their winter range to the town of Vail, CO, the S2 Gore Range Bighorn herd is one of the few endemic, or native, bighorn sheep herds remaining in the state of Colorado. A native herd that has experienced no supplemental or relocation events is incredibly rare in Colorado, classifying the Vail Bighorns as a top conservation priority state wide. The Vail Bighorns inhabit 100,000+ acres of the Gore Range of North Central Colorado during the summer and fall months. Their winter range is but a postage stamp by comparison. The entire herd of 75-100 bighorns winter on a small yet vital south facing exposure known as Booth Heights. This crucial winter range has been biologically proven to be the only hospitable environment the sheep can survive in during the Colorado winter months, and is the only suitable ground for winter breeding and spring lambing. This winter range is currently at risk of development, threatening to imperil this beloved herd.
a native herd fOr VAIL, A RARE GEM FOR COLORADO.
In addition to their status as an iconic natural gem and the Colorado state mammal, the Vail Bighorns are a vital part of Vail’s rich history, having called East Vail and the Gore Range Mountains home since before the first residents of Vail. This specific herd represents the pinnacle of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, serving as an indicator species for other wildlife in the area, with a trickle-down effect on overall ecosystem health, especially ungulates like deer and elk. The threat of losing their winter ground means this herd will not survive and this already fragile species is at risk of being lost forever. With your support this herd will continue to thrive and grow for many generations to come.
A COMMuNITY IN ACTION
THE TOWN OF VAIl, EAGLE COUNTY, WILD SHEEP ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL RESIDENTS, and HUNTING AND SHEEP ENTHUSIASTS UNITE TO SAVE THE VAIL BIGHORNS.
In July 2023, the Eagle County District Court ruling affirmed that a preponderance of evidence exists to support the biological necessity to conserve this parcel for the sheep, giving the Town the right to purchase this 23-acre parcel of crucial winter range. A judge appointed commission recently determined the purchase price at $17.5 million, which ultimately results in total estimated expenses of $20.5 million to purchase this parcel. To demonstrate their unwavering support, the Town of Vail has committed an additional 123-acres of land adjacent to this existing parcel for open space and earmarked $12 million towards the land purchase, the max capacity available through the RETT fund - a fund dedicated to supporting efforts such as this.
To further this effort and align with their mission, Eagle County Open Space Advisory Committee has recommended up to $5 million to support to purchase of the 23 acre parcel. Coupled with the Town’s 123 acres, the full 146 acres will be designated Eagle County Open Space with the ultimate goal of protecting the sheep in perpetuity through the added layer of protection of a conservation easement. An acquisition of this size, for a mere contribution of $5 million is one of - if not THE - lowest cost per acre acquisitions for Eagle County Open Space, making this a huge win for them. This $5 million contribution is not guaranteed, Eagle County Commissioners must first vote to approve the contribution.
This creates an urgent need to publicly raise $3 million by the purchase deadline of October 3, 2023 to cover the gap in town and county funding. This short window creates an immediate call to action for our local community to join the Town of Vail, Eagle County and thousands of local residents to save the Vail Bighorns by making a meaningful and lasting gift that goes directly to saving the sheep. This monumental effort will be marked as an example of one of the greatest sheep conservation efforts of all time and will demonstrate the power of community impact in creating lasting solutions in conservation.This monumental effort will be marked as an example of one of the greatest sheep conservation efforts of all time and will demonstrate the power of community impact in creating lasting solutions in conservation.
TOWN OF VAIL’S COMMUNITY HOUSING COMMITMENT
a challenge the Town of Vail is tackling head on.
Finding a balance between affordable housing and land conservation is a complex challenge that requires careful planning and a collaborative approach. For the last several years, the path to save the Vail Bighorns has been depicted as a battle where one must choose between the sheep or employee housing. Invested citizens in this effort have known all along that simply is not true. We can in fact, save the Vail Bighorn Sheep and build much-needed affordable housing for our local workforce; and that work is well underway by the Town of Vail. The Town of Vail and the Vail Housing Authority have an aggressive and bold plan to build and acquire 1,000 additional resident housing units and deed restricted units by 2027. The Vail Housing 2027 plan ensures the availability of affordable housing for year-round and seasonal residents. When achieved, this goal, along with the more than 688 deed restricted homes already in existence at the start of the plan, ensures affordable homes for more than 3,736 Vail residents and will establish Vail as an example to resort communities across the nation of how to build a livable and thriving community for local residents, while upholding their commitment to protect and conserve the iconic wildlife species and natural resources that are part of the fabric of our mountain community.
HOME FOR THE WILD
A new documentary film about the journey and challenges of Vail’s Bighorn Sheep.
NOT CONVINCED?
READ NEWS, REPORTS & DATA
Viewed as a controversial action, the Town of Vail’s right to purchase the Booth Heights parcel - as a last resort to save the sheep - is indeed an effort of conservation. The Town of Vail has offered Vail Resorts multiple solutions that provides 400+ more employee housing units than the proposed Booth Heights development. Vail Resorts has painted a different picture that affordable housing is not a priority for the Town is Vail, and suggests they are protecting the sheep over people. The truth is, both are of critical importance, and both are being addressed and can be protected.
Vail Bighorn Sheep Initiative has worked to aggregate the publicly available court rulings, offer letters made by Town of Vail, biologists reports, and expert testimonies available to the public. Together, we are empowering local citizens, confused Vail Resorts employees, and sheep enthusiasts to see the facts for themselves. The science and evidence is available that not only supports conserving this habitat, but demonstrates the numerous efforts Town of Vail has made to provide more employee housing solutions to Vail Resorts employees than Vail Resorts would come close to building on this parcel.
Moreover, we want all residents to feel equipped to hold Vail Resorts accountable to their promise of Net Zero impact on wildlife, environment and habitat. In their own marketing, they promise to have Zero Net Impact on the habitats where the operate, and they need to keep that promise to their flagship community of Vail, CO.