Bighorn sheep rescued from Riverside County canal

A bighorn sheep was rescued from a canal near the Arnold Palmer Golf Course in La Quinta after it became stuck, officials said Tuesday.

The sheep, which is an endangered species, was lethargic when an animal control officer found it about 6 p.m. Sunday, according to Riverside County Animal Services.

Hoof marks were found on the sides of the canal, and the animal appeared to be trying to pull itself out of the water.

Animal control officials believe the sheep was one that roams golf courses in the PGA West complex to eat soft grass. But this particular sheep wound up in the canal.

The officer used a control stick to loop one of the sheep’s horns to pull it out of the canal.

“When I boosted him out, I could tell he was helping me out as best he could,” Animal Control Officer Kyle Stephens said in a statement. “It would have been much tougher going without his help. He was definitely helping me as I helped him.”

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