400 dead this winter in an “unprecedented” series of events Populations of bighorn sheep are struggling with pneumonia throughout the west. Washington, Nevada, Montana, and most recently Utah are having outbreaks of pneumonia which have resulted in the deaths of 400 or more bighorn sheep. Statements like the following are often made about the outbreaks. “While…
Winter recreation may be one of the impacts to the remaining bighorn. This population of bighorn sheep has dwindled to very low numbers. Inbreeding, habitat loss due to development, and domestic sheep disease have restricted these sheep to very high elevation and sites of low productivity so human entry into these areas during winter may…
Four Montana herds, two in Washington plagued by disease- Here is another update on the pneumonia killing so many bighorn. The article also gives the total estimated bighorn populations of Idaho, Montana, and Washington. Hard times hit area bighorns. By Rich Landers. Spokesman-Review. “The Payette National Forest [in Western Idaho] recently released a draft proposal…
Both upper and lower Rock Creek herds are now infected- Worse, the terrain is too rough in lower Rock Creek to cull the herd. It appears that over 400 bighorn are at risk. Well over a hundred have already be culled. Others have just died on their own. Pneumonia confirmed in Upper Rock Creek bighorn…
Pneumonia in bighorn has now spread to Rock Creek- It just keeps getting worse for the bighorn hit by the pneumonia outbreak near Missoula. Bighorn sheep in Rock Creek latest hit by fatal pneumonia outbreak. By Rob Chaney. Missoulian.
Four recent outbreaks of disease in the west There are four disease outbreaks among bighorn sheep herds in the news this winter, two in Montana, one in Nevada, and one in Washington State. This is the time of year when bighorn sheep are concentrated so diseases are more easily transmitted. There has been no mention…
Utah doesn’t have enough sheep- Several months ago we reported on this plan to augment a dwindling population of bighorn in these relatively unknown south central Wyoming mountains. At any rate, Utah bighorn haven’t done well this year, so the project is canceled. Plans to release 40 Utah bighorn in Wyoming Seminole Mtns Canceled. AP
Workers only paid $750/month to live in extremely isolated conditions and are exposed to many dangers Public Lands sheep grazing not only creates conflict with bighorn sheep, wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, numerous other wildlife species, habitat degradation, weed proliferation, human conflict with guard dogs, and disease spread, it is responsible for…
Ken Cole is a 5th generation Idahoan, an avid fly fisherman, wildlife enthusiast, and photographer. He is the interim Idaho Director for Western Watersheds Project.
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