MT- Bighorn sheep die-off worsens

[Staff]

Bighorn sheep die-off worsens
by Perry Backus
Ravalli Republic

http://www.ravallirepublic.com/articles/2009/12/01/news/news63.txt
excerpt from above:

An outbreak of pneumonia in bighorn sheep from the East Fork of the Bitterroot herd worsened over the past week.

State wildlife biologists collected almost 30 infected bighorn sheep from the area south of Darby. Some of the infected animals were shot in an effort to slow the spread of the disease. Others were found already dead.
“Any hope for a moderate infection rate is waning,” said Craig Jourdonnais, FWP’s Bitterroot-based biologist. “I think we are in full blown die-off mode.”

[Staff]

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?..._ID:1010,80247

[Staff]

Pneumonia outbreak widens; FWP will kill 95 sheep in West Riverside herd
By Rob Chaney of the Missoulian
Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010 3:15 am

Pneumonia outbreak widens; FWP will kill 95 sheep in West Riverside herd
excerpt from above:

"It looks like we'll have to kill about 90 to 95 sheep, rather than the 60 to 65 we were hoping to take," Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokeswoman Vivica Crowser said on Thursday. "Some sheep east of the containment zone boundary were exhibiting symptoms, so we've had to expand that containment zone farther to the east."

[Staff]

FWP tries to slow spread of pneumonia
by PERRY BACKUS - Ravalli Republic

Ravalli Republic - Bitterroot Valley News: Hamilton, Stevensville, Darby, Victor, Florence
excerpt from above:

The effort in the East Fork to aggressively cull sick and dying bighorn sheep from the herd to try to slow the spread of the disease is a first for the state.

“A lot of different things have been tried in the past, but none have really worked,” Jourdonnais said. “We’re hoping that by targeting those sheep that are for sure infected, we might be able to save some … the approach is somewhat exploratory, but we know for sure what is going to happen if we do nothing.”

[Staff]

Update to Bighorn Sheep Viability Study Released Today
USDA Forest Service
Payette National Forest
Contact: Laura Pramuk: (208) 634-0784, (208) 634-6945
Date: January 25, 2010

Payette National Forest - Newsroom - 2006
excerpt from above:

Today the Payette National Forest (PNF) released updated information pertaining to the analysis in the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) to supplement the 2003 Southwest Idaho Ecogroup Land and Resource Management Plan FEIS (Forest Plan) as it relates to bighorn sheep viability on the Payette National Forest. The DSEIS was released in October 2008. This supplemental report to the DSEIS contains the following updates:

[Staff]

Public Meetings Scheduled
Due to the complexity of the information presented in the Updated Information and the interest this issue generates the Payette National Forest is planning to hold four meetings for the public. The schedule is as follows:

Boise: February 11, 2010 at the Doubletree Riverside Inn, 2900 Chinden Blvd.
6:30-9:00 p.m. in the Northstar Meeting Room

McCall: February 16, 2010 at the Payette National Forest Headquarters, 800 Lakeside Avenue
6:00-8:30 p.m. in the Conference Room

Weiser: February 18, 2010 at the Vendome Event Center, 309 State Street
6:00-8:30 p.m. in Rooms 2 & 3

Lewiston: February 24, 2010 at the Idaho Fish & Game Office, 3316 16th Street
6:00-8:30 pm in the Clearwater Room

The meetings will include a presentation on the updated information and an opportunity for questions from the audience. Official comments will need to be e-mailed to payettebighorn@fs.fed.us or written to Payette NF-Supervisor’s Office, 800 Lakeside Avenue, McCall, ID 83638. Questions about the meetings or general information about the process may be directed to Public Affairs Office Laura Pramuk at 208-634-0784.

[Staff]

Biologists fear goat presence in Grand Teton park
* Cory Hatch
* Originally published April 10, 2010 at 8 a.m., updated April 10, 2010 at 9:01 a.m.

Victoria Advocate | Biologists fear goat presence in Grand Teton park
excerpt from above:

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - Mountain goats spotted in Grand Teton National Park during an aerial flight last month have renewed worries that the nonnative species could compete with the park's vulnerable bighorn sheep herd.

National Park Service and Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists said four mountain goats were spotted in Cascade Canyon during a count of the Teton Range Bighorn Sheep Herd in March. Biologists say the sheep herd, which numbers roughly 100 animals, is vulnerable because it is isolated from other sheep and because it subsists on marginal, high elevation terrain...

[Staff]

Officials concerned about potential pneumonia outbreak in Jackson herd
G&F monitors sheep health
By Jeff Gearino - Southwest Wyoming bureau
Posted: Wednesday, April 7, 2010 1:00 am

G&F monitors sheep health
excerpt from above:

"Unfortunately, removing sick animals is the only way to have a chance at identifying the original pathogen, because it can be easily masked by other bacteria as the disease progresses," said Edwards. "So far, we are not seeing any of the ... bacteria which are often associated with bighorn sheep pneumonia outbreaks and die-offs.

"We did identify some lungworms, which is not too surprising, and they were not heavy loads, so that was good."

The agency has designated the Jackson bighorn sheep herd as a "core" native herd because it is naturally occurring and was not reintroduced to the area. Preserving core herds is a top priority for the Game and Fish...

[Staff]

Deadly pneumonia traced to domestic sheep
Study shows domestics can infect bighorn sheep with bacteria
AVMA journals > JAVMA News > Mannheimia haemolytica
posted October 18, 2010

Deadly pneumonia traced to domestic sheep
excerpt from above:

New research claims to settle the controversial and long-running debate over whether domestic sheep can infect bighorn sheep with the bacteria that cause fatal respiratory pneumonia.

A research team led by Dr. Sri Srikumaran at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine tagged Mannheimia haemolytica isolated from domestic sheep to show that domestic sheep could transmit the deadly bacteria to bighorn sheep when they were in contact with each other.

The four bighorn sheep in the study all died from pneumonia traced back to bacteria originating in the domestic sheep...

[Staff]

Efforts fail to halt pneumonia outbreak in sheep
Associated Press
The Billings Gazette | Posted: Tuesday, November 9, 2010 2:32 pm

Efforts fail to halt pneumonia outbreak in sheep
excerpt from above:

"It was worth a try to see if we could eradicate the disease early on, when we still had hope it hadn't spread very far," Thompson said in the statement. "But now we can't tell the difference between sheep that will die and sheep that might survive."

Officials don't yet know how many animals have been killed in the outbreak because the animals are too spread out, FWP spokeswoman Vivica Crowser said. The number of fatalities may be clearer once the rut begins in a few weeks, she said.

Pneumonia killed 60 percent of a different herd in the Upper Rock Creek area earlier this year after officials let the disease run its course...