Bighorn sheep need our help in Anza-Borrego

Re “Neglect of guzzlers puts sheep at risk” (May 8): When the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park environmental scientist suggests phasing out watering stations for bighorn sheep, he’s saying he wants a smaller population of sheep in the park. The availability of water to any population of animals (including humans) determines how many can live in an area that shares the supply.

With less water to drink, sheep, mountain lions, coyotes, chipmunks, birds, etc. will die off until the population stabilizes at a lower level that can support life in that area. Even now Anza-Borrego is so dry that it can only support a few hundred bighorn sheep, so its gene pool is concentrated and in danger of inbreeding and weakening the species, making it even more susceptible to extinction.

Lyle Stotelmyre Oceanside