Bad News on Antelope Island!

[LDennis24]

Is that the same island that they have trophy mule deer hunts as well or is that a different island?
Will that effect the mule deer herd?

Same island.

I don’t know enough to say for sure but I don’t think the influenza affects deer. The virus is carried by domestic sheep who are vaccinated against it. Domestic sheep that are grazed on land that carries wild sheep come in contact with the wild sheep and spread the virus. Pretty much a death sentence for wild sheep.  That was the reason for the Tieton herd to be culled and a lot of the Umtanum herd to also be killed. To stop the spread.  How’d it get onto the island though?

The water level is actually so low that there is a land bridge to the main coastline and they believe some of the Rams may have roamed into territory with domestic sheep and them came back or vise versa...

[Sitka_Blacktail]

I know nothing about Antelope Island. Is there obviously domestic sheep on it?

There are bison and mule deer and a herd of domestic cattle on Antelope Island besides the sheep. I fished for brine shrimp for a couple years out of the marina on Antelope Island.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Just a thought, but is it possible it's a mistake to cull the rest of the herd that has so far survived? Maybe they have some sort of genetic resistance to this disease.  If they survive, their genetics might help other wild sheep develop a resistance?  That's how things worked before man decided he was smarter than nature.

[Bob33]

Related story:

http://montanauntamed.com/hunting/article_7446cfa6-15b0-5119-8fb7-f83a365605c1.html

[Tbar]

No, actually the purpose of the herd on the island is to protect it from domestic sheep and the diseases they carry. They then in turn use the herd to boost herd genetics in other areas. The sale of the sheep hunting tags is actually beneficial to the greater good of bighorn sheep conservation so the comment about selling wildlife sounds ignorant.

Is this the king's wildlife?  Maybe you're ignorant.  Are you familiar with the North American Model?

What's the point your trying to make?

First it's a very sad and unfortunate situation. Second  Utah has some questionable management strategies. They lead the nation in sale of wildlife.

[MtnMuley]

Really curious why the aren't rushing in the reversal drug? Save what's left. Can't believe there's not more talk about this discovery a guy developed and research team testeda couple years ago.

[LDennis24]

No, actually the purpose of the herd on the island is to protect it from domestic sheep and the diseases they carry. They then in turn use the herd to boost herd genetics in other areas. The sale of the sheep hunting tags is actually beneficial to the greater good of bighorn sheep conservation so the comment about selling wildlife sounds ignorant.

Is this the king's wildlife?  Maybe you're ignorant.  Are you familiar with the North American Model?

What's the point your trying to make?

First it's a very sad and unfortunate situation. Second  Utah has some questionable management strategies. They lead the nation in sale of wildlife.

I'm sorry but your last statement is completely baseless. With that I'm not gonna bite anymore. I was just curious why you made the comment you did but now I know...

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Another though occurred to me, do they know how this disease is transmitted? And if they culled the remaining herd and brought in new animals to rebuild the herd, can they be assured that the disease isn't lurking in one of the other species (Bison, Mule Deer, Antelope, Cattle) on the island only to pop back up in the new sheep? Or is it something that is now lurking in the habitat there, spread by diseased animals urinating and defecating?  They may have a larger problem than they realize or admit.