Poisonous Non-Native Oleanders are Scaring Off Bighorn Sheep
Last updated 5/26/2015 at 3:26pm
These days, many desert-dwellers are in the process of or are considering removing non-native oleander shrubs from their property. Not only has the Borrego Water District recommended replacing oleanders with more Drought tolerant plants, but oleanders can also present a danger to animals and children. An oleander removal project is now underway at Agua Caliente County Park. As all parts of the oleander are poisonous, their removal will eliminate the possibility of the bighorn sheep (who frequent the area) from ingesting the toxic foliage. It’s been noted that ever since the construction of the Rancho Mirage bighorn exclusion fence, none of the endangered peninsular bighorn sheep have died from urban related causes, one of which was oleander poisoning.
