JACKSON, Wyo. — On Friday, Dec. 13, the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) posted photos of a recent bighorn sheep capture event near Jackson.
According to the post, BTNF wildlife technicians Jackie Arnal and Morgan Smith assisted the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and researchers with the University of Wyoming’s Monteith Shop.
The bighorn sheep were captured on both the National Elk Refuge and BTNF by a professional capture crew using nets fired from a helicopter, BTNF reports. The sheep were then ferried to biologists who weighed each animal, collected blood and nasal swabs to test for disease, determined if females were still lactating, measured body fat using ultrasound and replaced GPS collars if necessary.
The Jackson bighorn sheep herd has experienced multiple pneumonia die-offs over the years, and could be heading towards an “all ages die-off.” BTNF confirms the ongoing study is designed to learn why and how it might be prevented. The study also looks at the amount of available forage on their summer range, which BTNF writes is double the amount of forage found for the struggling Whiskey Mountain sheep that summer in the northern Wind River Range near Dubois.
“The preliminary anecdotal observations showed the captured sheep had good fat levels going into winter and most were still lactating, meaning that they likely have a lamb,” the BTNF post reads. “The sheep will be recaptured again for the same procedure next March, at the end of winter, for comparison.”
Grand Teton National Park is requesting help from visitors as its dedicated ungulate team tracks the park’s populations of bighorn sheep and mountain goats.
