Post by: winshooter88 on April 01, 2013, 03:27:25 PM
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/ (http://wdfw.wa.gov/)
April 1, 2013
Contact: Darren Friedel, (360) 902-2256
Wildlife officials to euthanize
diseased bighorn sheep
OLYMPIA - State wildlife officials will take steps this week to curb the spread of a deadly pneumonia outbreak by euthanizing wild bighorn sheep in the Naches area.
Biologists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services will spend the next several weeks removing sheep from the Tieton herd, about 10 miles west of Naches.
Because most of the sheep are believed to be infected with a disease that causes pneumonia, almost all of the animals will likely need to be euthanized, said Richard Harris, wildlife manager for WDFW.
"A majority of the live bighorn sheep spotted during recent surveys looked to be in poor condition, with about a third of those animals coughing or showing other signs of the disease," Harris said. "We hate to have to take this action, but we believe it’s necessary to stop the spread of a disease that could devastate adjacent herds of wild bighorn sheep in the area."
The disease has already significantly reduced the herd, which is currently estimated at between 35 to 50 animals, said Harris. In recent years, the Tieton herd has numbered as many as 200 animals.
So far, no dead or sick bighorn sheep have been found outside the Tieton herd.
Earlier this year, wildlife managers received reports of sick and dead sheep along the Tieton River. To date, about 25 dead sheep have been found by WDFW biologists conducting aerial and ground surveys.
Carcasses tested at Washington State University’s veterinary laboratory were found to have pneumonia, caused by Mycoplasma bacteria.
The disease is often fatal in wild bighorn sheep and can affect the survival rate of lambs later born to animals that survive the disease, Harris said. There is no treatment for bighorns with pneumonia and there is no preventative vaccine for the disease.
Pneumonia in wild bighorn sheep is not transmissible to humans or domestic livestock, said Harris, who noted that the department is exploring options for how the meat may be used.
Heads and other biological samples from euthanized sheep will be removed from the area, Harris said.
The Yakima area is home to about a third of the state’s 2,000 wild bighorn sheep, with herds totaling nearly 700 animals. Other bighorn sheep herds in the area include the Quilomene, Cleman Mountain and Umtanum/Selah Butte.
In 2010, state and federal wildlife managers took similar action and successfully stopped the spread of the disease in the Yakima River Canyon. Since then, lamb survival has increased and the population in the canyon is recovering.
Past outbreaks among bighorn sheep in Washington and other parts of the western United States have been linked to contact between wild sheep and domestic sheep or goats that carry Mycoplasma but are unaffected by the bacteria. However, there is currently no evidence that there was contact between domestic and wild sheep in the Naches area, said Harris.
Just to be clear, this is not a April fools day joke. I just recieved the e-mail from the WDFW.
Post by: bobcat on April 01, 2013, 03:38:52 PM
Post by: blacktailer on April 01, 2013, 03:42:35 PM
Post by: jackelope on April 01, 2013, 03:43:26 PM
Wow, bad news! Didn't they just do the same thing last year in the Umtanum unit?
Yes but they didn't shoot all of them. The way it reads, they're going to eliminate the entire herd.
Post by: X-Force on April 01, 2013, 03:52:13 PM
sounds like quite a few
Post by: jackelope on April 01, 2013, 03:53:48 PM
Quote
The disease has already significantly reduced the herd, which is currently estimated at between 35 to 50 animals, said Harris. In recent years, the Tieton herd has numbered as many as 200 animals.
Post by: Atroxus on April 01, 2013, 03:54:34 PM
Post by: jackelope on April 01, 2013, 03:55:35 PM
Post by: jackelope on April 01, 2013, 04:38:57 PM
Is pneumonia contagious?I dont get why they would do thisYes, the pneumonia the sheep have is contagious and as far as I know they have no cure. They're going to kill them before it spreads to the Clemans Mt. herd.
Post by: jackelope on April 01, 2013, 04:43:11 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on April 01, 2013, 04:54:29 PM
Post by: mulehunter on April 01, 2013, 05:03:57 PM
Earlier this year, wildlife managers received reports of sick and dead wolves along the Steven County. To date, about 25 dead wolves have been found by WDFW biologists conducting aerial and ground surveys.
Carcasses tested at Washington State University’s veterinary laboratory were found to have pneumonia, caused by Mycoplasma bacteria.
:rolleyes:
Post by: mulehunter on April 01, 2013, 05:05:17 PM
Post by: klickman on April 01, 2013, 05:17:24 PM
OLYMPIA - State wildlife officials will take steps this week to curb the spread of a deadly pneumonia outbreak by euthanizing Wolves packs in the NE area.
Earlier this year, wildlife managers received reports of sick and dead wolves along the Steven County. To date, about 25 dead wolves have been found by WDFW biologists conducting aerial and ground surveys.
Carcasses tested at Washington State University’s veterinary laboratory were found to have pneumonia, caused by Mycoplasma bacteria.
:rolleyes:
We can only dream. Would be sweet though
Post by: Dan-o on April 01, 2013, 06:14:01 PM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on April 01, 2013, 06:16:57 PM
Bad deal for the sheep herd.... :(
:yeah: I honestly thought it was already done two years ago?? I guess not. Would love to hear from Bone on this issue!!!
Post by: Austrian Hunter on April 01, 2013, 06:18:46 PM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on April 01, 2013, 06:30:43 PM
And this is a different herd, not the one at the feeding station across from Oaks Creek, please someone correct me if i'm wrong!
This is the herd up highway 12 from Oak Creek up past Rimrock retreat. They do use the oak creek area and do cross over the unit into the clemans unit too, that's why they want to eliminate them to prevent them from infecting the Cleman's sheep.
Thank you!!!!
Post by: Ridgerunner on April 01, 2013, 06:44:12 PM
Post by: winshooter88 on April 01, 2013, 07:06:25 PM
Post by: jackelope on April 01, 2013, 07:38:58 PM
Sheep.Does anyone know how many animals they are taking or took out?
sounds like quite a few
There is only 50 head remaining and all of them are sick. It is either the *censored* who lets his goats roam up in tieton or the range sheep.
Post by: pendoreilleadventures on April 01, 2013, 08:20:16 PM
Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2
Post by: Scottystyle on April 02, 2013, 01:41:31 AM
Idea has probably been hashed out before but why can't a handful of tags be issued to take out some of the rams rather than simply destroying them???
The problem with that is that 1) it would provide hunters opportunity and 2) it wouldnt cost too much to do it.
Post by: boneaddict on April 02, 2013, 07:39:12 AM
Post by: boneaddict on April 02, 2013, 07:42:04 AM
http://www.yakimaherald.com/home/999739-8/disease-may-force-slaughter-of-tieton-bighorn-sheep (http://www.yakimaherald.com/home/999739-8/disease-may-force-slaughter-of-tieton-bighorn-sheep)
Post by: 180-GRAIN on April 02, 2013, 07:56:37 AM
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on April 02, 2013, 08:13:32 AM
Post by: boneaddict on April 02, 2013, 08:37:25 AM
Quote
Wouldn't be surprised of the clemans herd starts dropping like flies. The sheep are known to go from place to place quite often.
I know, they cross back and forth on the Naches River all the time. Even spookier than the Umpt herd and Selah Butte.
Someone posed the question about opening it up for the general public for tags. I would bet this would rate as at least one good reason why not.
Post by: adamR on April 02, 2013, 12:02:55 PM
Post by: coachcw on April 02, 2013, 12:20:31 PM
Post by: boneaddict on April 02, 2013, 12:37:40 PM
I understand the reasons why but the way they are doing this is bs! As said make a short draw time ( make money from apps), people get drawn charge us for tags(not the full amount since most likely you wouldn't kill a nice ram), and everyone wins. Game dept makes more money which is ultimately their goal on anything, hunters score becuz they have a chance at a sheep, and the sheep die!
Normally I would agree, but not this time. Animals can easily be pushed into other units, namely Clemans in this case. May happen already but that would be catastrophic versus just aweful. Second, they stated in the article there may be pockets of animals uneffected, would the general public be able to tell who is sick and who isn't? Second, if you had a tag, would you be after the huge ram, or the sickly ewe that needed put down. It would be a cluster versus contained effeciancy. Thirdly, logistics of a closed hunting area that opens May 1st, due to shed hunting and elk....more mess
Post by: PlateauNDN on April 02, 2013, 12:42:56 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 02, 2013, 12:50:36 PM
Post by: provider on April 02, 2013, 12:52:15 PM
Post by: stevemiller on April 02, 2013, 12:58:42 PM
Since this is an operation to euthanize sick diseased wild animals... and NOT "hunting"... there is no hunting permits going to be issued... or even considered. It's best to let the professionals do the euthanizing.Professional hunters havnt heard that one before at least in the last 200 years anyway
Post by: jackelope on April 02, 2013, 01:06:52 PM
Since this is an operation to euthanize sick diseased wild animals... and NOT "hunting"... there is no hunting permits going to be issued... or even considered. It's best to let the professionals do the euthanizing.Professional hunters havnt heard that one before at least in the last 200 years anyway
Not professional hunters. Shooters.
Post by: adamR on April 02, 2013, 01:34:50 PM
In regards to shooting a big ram vs a ewe each hunter could be given a specific tag choosing ewe or ram based on a draw and the hunt coordinator could tell them not to shoot that giant unaffected ram... I know it will never happen I just don't like more opportunities being taken away from hunters over something as simple as range sheep.
Post by: winshooter88 on April 02, 2013, 02:12:39 PM
Post by: jackelope on April 02, 2013, 02:57:30 PM
I'm just guessing that hiring professional hunters is going to cost a fortune... They could do how they do some master hunter hunts and have a hunt coordinator out there helping each hunter and it would probably still be cheaper than hiring shooters.
In regards to shooting a big ram vs a ewe each hunter could be given a specific tag choosing ewe or ram based on a draw and the hunt coordinator could tell them not to shoot that giant unaffected ram... I know it will never happen I just don't like more opportunities being taken away from hunters over something as simple as range sheep.
I'm pretty positive that the shooters and the guys running the show are Fed guys and not WDFW.
Post by: asl20bball on April 02, 2013, 03:31:28 PM
I'm pretty positive that the shooters and the guys running the show are Fed guys and not WDFW.
I hope its the Feds cause WDFW can't do anything right.
Post by: norsepeak on April 02, 2013, 03:36:44 PM
Post by: bobcat on April 02, 2013, 03:44:22 PM
There's at least three big boys on clemans that I wished I'd seen last year tha t I hope don't get affected because they would make very nice mounts. Tags sounds better than wasting money.
Plateau, I wonder if there's any way your tribe could force the state or federal government into NOT alllowing domestic sheep on public lands?
I know the tribes have had lots of influence in fisheries issues, such as requiring the state to remove fish blockages in streams.
I just don't see a future for bighorn sheep if this pattern of them getting sick, and the state killing them all, continues, as long as domestic sheep exist in the same areas.
Post by: h20hunter on April 02, 2013, 03:47:16 PM
Post by: asl20bball on April 02, 2013, 05:35:48 PM
Post by: Alan K on April 02, 2013, 05:44:42 PM
Unfortunately, never going to happen, even if it did mean a few hundred grand for WDFW. That money could go towards transplant animals and stuff too. :dunno:
Post by: pat2bear on April 03, 2013, 11:09:28 AM
Post by: steen on April 04, 2013, 04:55:01 PM
Post by: pat2bear on April 10, 2013, 02:09:40 PM
Post by: cardboard slayer on April 18, 2013, 09:26:02 PM
Post by: bobcat on April 18, 2013, 10:26:19 PM
Are there any bighorn sheep in this state that are "natural?"
Post by: norsepeak on April 18, 2013, 10:29:39 PM
Post by: pat2bear on April 19, 2013, 01:49:18 PM
This is what I don't like about bighorn sheep hunting in this state. If I ever drew the tag, I'd almost feel like I was just hunting domestic bighorn sheep. They just don't seem "wild" when they're only there because they've been transplanted there (wherever they may be).My understanding is that they are native but were reintroduced after the original herds died off because of disease. But I get what you are saying as far as them not seeming wild. I always just assumed that their docility and low fear of humans is because of the little hunting pressure they get.
Are there any bighorn sheep in this state that are "natural?"
Post by: huntnphool on April 19, 2013, 01:57:44 PM
This is what I don't like about bighorn sheep hunting in this state. If I ever drew the tag, I'd almost feel like I was just hunting domestic bighorn sheep. They just don't seem "wild" when they're only there because they've been transplanted there (wherever they may be).So I guess you would feel the same way if you drew a Blues bull tag.
Are there any bighorn sheep in this state that are "natural?"
Post by: pendoreilleadventures on April 19, 2013, 02:02:09 PM
Post by: bobcat on April 19, 2013, 03:13:15 PM
This is what I don't like about bighorn sheep hunting in this state. If I ever drew the tag, I'd almost feel like I was just hunting domestic bighorn sheep. They just don't seem "wild" when they're only there because they've been transplanted there (wherever they may be).So I guess you would feel the same way if you drew a Blues bull tag.
Are there any bighorn sheep in this state that are "natural?"
No, not the same.
Post by: huntnphool on April 19, 2013, 03:16:22 PM
But they were also transplanted. ;)This is what I don't like about bighorn sheep hunting in this state. If I ever drew the tag, I'd almost feel like I was just hunting domestic bighorn sheep. They just don't seem "wild" when they're only there because they've been transplanted there (wherever they may be).So I guess you would feel the same way if you drew a Blues bull tag.
Are there any bighorn sheep in this state that are "natural?"
No, not the same.
Post by: get one leakin on August 30, 2013, 10:36:49 PM
Post by: huntnphool on August 31, 2013, 09:35:50 AM
People talk about "Ending domestic Grazing" as its no big deal. That's taking away peoples livelihood... Sad deal with the sheep no doubt but doesn't the article say "the disease is not transferable to domestic animals or people"??How many more people are effected by the domestic sheep infecting the wild? Significantly more!!!
I'm all for ranchers raising their sheep and making a living but they should be raised and grazed on their own land or be held responsible financially if their sheep infect the wild heard. Once they are held financially responsible I believe we would see a decline in pneumonia cases. :twocents:
Post by: lhrbull on August 31, 2013, 11:17:21 PM