TERLINGUA— Campsites and many facilities at the Big Bend Ranch State Park Complex will be closed for the safety of park visitors during wildlife surveys Oct. 25 – 28. During the surveys, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Wildlife Biologists will be counting desert bighorn sheep by helicopter and performing the lethal removal of non-native aoudad (barbary sheep) when encountered.

Access to the Closed Canyon Trail will be unavailable Oct. 25, reopening Oct. 26. The Hoodoos and Contrabando Trail System will be open during the survey’s duration. Please contact the park for more details surrounding the closure.

Non-native aoudad compete heavily for resources with the bighorn sheep and other native species and have the potential to transmit diseases to the sheep. Control of this invasive species is needed to protect the park’s native plants and animals as well as springs and other water resources that animals depend upon.

Information about bighorn sheep can be found on the TPWD website.