Wayward bighorn sheep rescued near La Quinta

A wayward bighorn sheep is safe after getting stuck in La Quinta Tuesday morning.

The sheep was spotted around noon on the mountainside near Highway 111 and Washington Street. It was later seen above the Cliffhouse Grill & Bar.

Deputies with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department arrived to help Fish and Wildlife officers get the bighorn to safety.

“There’s a couple of dangers, obviously we have an endangered species on the wrong side of Highway 111, and his chance of getting back is always a huge concern,” said Jim DeForge, executive director of the Bighorn Institute. “And obviously when these animals are pushed…they might go right into traffic and it becomes a health hazard for anyone driving here,” DeForge added.

Rescuers were able to get the bighorn sheep back to the south side of Highway 111 and up the hill about 20 minutes after deputies arrived.

DeForge said a young ram came to the same location about 15 years ago, but the endangered species hasn’t been spotted in the area since.