Texas Approves Helicopter Hunts for Invasive Sheep

Barbary sheep, also called aoudads, are big animals with curved horns and long, shaggy manes. They originally come from the mountains in northern Africa, but people brought them to West Texas back in the 1950s. Now, they’re considered a major problem.

Over time, aoudads have spread across the region, eating up plants that local animals like mule deer and bighorn sheep need to survive. They’re also super tough. Fences don’t stop them. Instead of jumping over, they just crash through, wrecking expensive fencing and land.

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Texas Legalizes Aerial Hunts of Invasive Sheep

Ranchers say these sheep are out of control. There aren’t many predators that can stop them, and they reproduce quickly. Some even carry diseases and could breed with native sheep, which would mess up years of conservation work.

Because of all this, Texas lawmakers passed a new law. Starting Sept. 1, hunters will be allowed to shoot aoudads from helicopters for sport. Before this, only wild hogs and coyotes could be hunted that way.

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Supporters think it will help ranchers keep their land in better shape. But it’s not cheap. Flying a helicopter for one hour can cost around $1,000. Plus, this type of hunting is mainly for wealthy people looking for a “trophy” animal, not regular folks trying to control the population.