DWR and Partners Release Desert Bighorn Sheep at First Nursery in Utah

LEHI, UT, July 5, 2022 – Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and Nevada Department of Wildlife have partnered with Skyrider Wilderness Ranch on a conservation initiative to protect and restore desert bighorn sheep populations.

Nevada Department of Wildlife captured 31 desert bighorn sheep in Muddy Mountain Wilderness, Nevada, where they are at risk for disease and battling extreme drought. Through June 28-29th, 2022 the Utah DWR released the bighorn sheep in the Skyrider Wilderness Ranch nursery. The nursery is located on roughly 1,800 acres of private property and is owned and managed by Young Living Essential Oils in Tabiona, Duchesne County.

“We are extremely excited to have a healthy population of desert bighorn sheep in such a great location,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Once-in-a-Lifetime Coordinator Rusty Robinson said. “These animals will aid in bighorn conservation throughout the state. We’re grateful to all the great partners at Nevada Department of Wildlife, Utah Wild Sheep Foundation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, and Young Living for making this idea a reality.”

As a first-of-its-kind partnership with the state of Utah and Nevada, this nursery will support the health and longevity of bighorn sheep populations, the most sought-after sheep in the Western United States who have now diminished in population. Skyrider Wilderness Ranch will provide the nursery enclosure while the Utah DWR will provide intensive management and complete control for things like population, herd health management, habitat monitoring, and predator control. Once the herd is established, sheep will be placed across Utah to build new populations or supplement existing ones to restore historic range and help improve overall health of the species.

“Conservation has always been at the core of Skyrider Ranch,” Mary Young, Co-Founder and CEO of Young Living, said. “The property plays a pivotal role to native wildlife by providing a perfectly suited habitat, water source, and high-fence area that keeps predators out. We consciously work towards achieving our ambitious conservation, preservation, and restoration goals– and helping protect these bighorn sheep populations is directly in line with the efforts Young Living had in mind when the ranch was started many years ago. It’s our duty after all, to work with Mother Nature instead of against her.”

Government and Young Living leaders alike hope this partnership serves as a model for other organizations. Commitment to conservation and protection of nature and wildlife are core to Young Living’s values by bringing about meaningful and lasting change in the natural environment. We hope other business leaders can find ways to leverage property and resources in support of protecting wildlife, natural resources, and ecosystems regardless of their operational goals.

Young Living Essential Oils, LC, based in Lehi, Utah, is the world leader in essential oils, offering the highest-quality oil-infused products available. Young Living takes its industry leadership seriously, setting the standard with its proprietary Seed to Seal® quality commitment. This guiding principle helps Young Living protect the planet and provide authentic products that its Brand Partners and Customers can feel confident using and sharing with friends and family. Young Living’s products—sourced from corporate-owned farms, partner farms, and other trusted suppliers—not only support a healthy lifestyle, but also provide opportunities for over 6 million global Brand Partners to find a sense of purpose and whole-life wellness by aligning their work with the Young Living values and passions. For more information, visit YoungLiving.com, follow @youngliving on Instagram, or like us on Facebook.

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