Pneumonia claiming Asotin Creek bighorns

[ramslam]

Pneumonia claiming Asotin Creek bighorns


What had been a remarkably healthy herd of bighorn sheep is suffering from a disease that has plagued other herds in the Hells Canyon region since the late 1990s.
Members of the Asotin Creek herd, which numbered more than 100 animals late last year, are now dying of pneumonia.

"We are already down 30 to 40 percent," said Paul Wik, district wildlife biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at Clarkston. "We think the mortality has the possibility of continuing through the fall, and we may see it continue through the next rut when they have so much contact. We are predicting lamb survival will be quite low this summer."
 

Pneumonia swept through many bighorn herds in the greater Hells Canyon area in 1995 and 1996. Wildlife biologists and researchers believe the outbreak was triggered when domestic sheep or goats carrying the disease came in contact with wild sheep. Since the initial outbreak, and resulting all-age die off, the affected herds have continued to be plagued by lingering illness and poor lamb survival.
 

Despite its close proximity to sick herds, as well as the outskirts of Asotin and Clarkston where some residents keep domestic sheep and goats, the Asotin herd represented an island of good health. That changed in January when sheep began to die.
 

Wik said it appears the disease may have been imported from a wandering ram belonging to the Black Butte herd that lives near the mouth of the Grand Ronde River. That herd previously suffered from the disease and the same strain of bacteria was found in dead sheep from the Asotin herd.

"It seems logical that would be the source of the outbreak but we are not able to say that at this time," Wik said.

Researchers at Washington State University are testing dead sheep from the herd. The disease was found in three dead ewes wearing radio collars and in one ewe killed by a cougar. One dead ewe tested negative for the disease.
 

Wik said the department is intensively monitoring the herd but has no plans at this time to take other actions.

In November, five sheep from the Asotin herd were captured and taken to WSU for research. All of them tested negative for the disease. Because of herd's health, some animals were periodically trapped and used by researchers trying to learn more about the disease. The Asotin herd has been subjected to highly managed hunting. Wik said it is possible a two-tag hunt previously planned for this fall will continue.

"Based on our survey data we still have adequate number for a very limited harvest," he said.

[cem3434]

Seems like this would be a good time for WDFW to take some of that money that they get from us every year and figure out how to get the herd healthy again. 

[Elkstuffer]

And they added another ram tag to the Asotin unit this year.

[KNOPHISH]

Damn shame, I thought that herd was doing well. Don't make sense to add another tag if the herd is down 30-40 head out of 100.    I've seen em down grazing in peoples front yards so it may not be from running domestics up in the hills, they'd come in contact down low.

[rosscrazyelk]

 

[jackelope]

Seems like this would be a good time for WDFW to take some of that money that they get from us every year and figure out how to get the herd healthy again. 

Ramslam or other guys on here more familiar with it can correct me if I'm wrong but I think there is extensive work being done at WSU on this right now.  I think they have some sheep in captivity there at the research facility.

[JoeE]

Seems like this would be a good time for WDFW to take some of that money that they get from us every year and figure out how to get the herd healthy again. 

Ramslam or other guys on here more familiar with it can correct me if I'm wrong but I think there is extensive work being done at WSU on this right now.  I think they have some sheep in captivity there at the research facility.

There was an article about this is the last newsletter from the WA Wild Sheep Foundation. But it said that vaccination could take about 10 years before it could be put into use. I read the article awhile ago so somebody else could probably explain it better than me.

[RG]

In the past I worked for a big game outfitter in British Columbia.  When the bighorns up there got pneumonia the outfitters association packed in apple mash laced with medication and left it in the sheep areas.  I'm pretty sure the powers that be here would discourage man's attempt to assist nature, especially since it didn't involve the game department, but it seems like that was a pretty low cost, effective plan.

[blacktailer]

Yeah.  That actually sounds pretty reasonable.   Get an ingestable form of LA 200 and mix with some sort of treat (apple mash)  Just might work. 

[shortnround]

I thought Broad Spectrum antibiotic dosages are usually weight dependent and require more than a single dose or bacterial resistance is a big concern. Anyone know of a good case study available online to read?

[JLS]

I thought Broad Spectrum antibiotic dosages are usually weight dependent and require more than a single dose or bacterial resistance is a big concern. Anyone know of a good case study available online to read?

You are correct.  The doses must be 1) sufficient in amount for the body weight and 2) frequent enough and for a specific duration.

That's why when you get an antibiotic from your doctor you usually take it 1-2x per day for 5-10 days.

[RG]

I don't recall the details because I wasn't involved in the effort myself.  I do know it went on most of one summer.