Bighorn Sheep Struck by Car on Highway 74

The California Highway Patrol says a driver struck and killed a bighorn sheep on Highway 74, south of Palm Desert late Friday afternoon.

Idyllwild resident Chuck Weisbart told reporters he was on his way home at about 4:30 p.m. Friday when the sedan in front of him struck the animal. He says the driver stopped.

Weisbart says traffic was moving about 40 to 50 mph at the time.

A state fish and game warden responded and removed the dead animal from the road.

According to the Bighorn Institute's website, the Peninsular bighorn sheep inhabit dry, rocky, low-elevation desert terrain from the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains near Palm Springs south into Baja California, Mexico. They have been on the federally endangered species list since 1998.