The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and University of Wyoming are continuing their on-going research project on bighorn sheep in the Jackson Region. Recently, 12 collared female bighorn sheep were captured for disease sampling, body condition measurements, and fitted with radio collars to learn more about their survival, nutritional condition, migration patterns and the potential presence of disease. Samples were collected to test for respiratory pathogens that can cause pneumonia.
Researchers from the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Wyoming performed an ultrasound on each animal to measure body fat, which showed the animals in good shape going into winter.
The Jackson herd is primarily found in the Gros Ventre Mountains east of Jackson and has typically numbered approximately 500 animals. However, the herd has experienced two significant pneumonia die-offs in recent years. In 2002, it was estimated that as many as 50 percent of the herd was lost due to a pneumonia outbreak and another estimated 30 percent lost again in 2012.
It is now estimated that the herd has climbed back to around 400 animals. Wildlife managers are hoping this research will help provide insight to prevent future die-offs.
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