Bighorn Blog

Domestic sheep continue to be moved to new fields throughout the valley with electric fence surrounding them and managed by 2 or 3 herders.

The last of the 3 rams died on 10/22 from undetermined disease, likely BlueTongue.  On November 4, three bighorn rams (2 yr old and 2 4-yr olds) were captured, GPS-collared, and transported to Thacker Pass on Nov 5 and then slung up to the top btwn Pole and Rock Creeks and released from the transport crates.  One ram went over to the escarpment and within 2 days was amongst the 4 adult ewes on the SW end.  One ram forayed up to Crowley Creek and after a week, forayed back to Rock and Pole Creeks his movements were heavily overlapping with both the Pole and Rock Creek ewe groups.  We assume both rams were breeding these ewes.  Third ram forayed over to the Hoppin Hills and continues to be solo over there.  Wildlife Services lion specialist returned on 11/14 and removed an adult lion.  He will continue to work the country including pushing south into the Double Hs.  The ewe that forayed south into the Double Hs with her lamb 3 weeks ago, died earlier this week.  Investigation pending.

Domestic Sheep were combined and moved to 3 fields from 4 fields the previous week.  On the bighorn front, we had a bighorn ram die on 10/22 of unknown cause but clinical signs indicate Bluetongue infection.  Whole carcass was found untouched by predators.  The GPS collared ewe that was 1 mile south of Thacker Pond, has now moved 4 more miles south on the west escarpment of the Double H's (see new map).  Wildlife Services removed an adult mountain lion on 10/26 in Crowley Creek a few miles to the northeast of the main group of bighorn ewes in Rock Creek.

Carl Erquiaga, NBU-Fallon volunteer, drove up to KRV for 3 days 11/14 - 16 to monitor domestics and bighorn sheep. Did a great job of identifying the current 4 fields where domestic sheep are grazing, watching herders move sheep from one section of a field to another ungrazed section in a well organized manner with electric fence already set up, and got eyes on the lone bighorn ewe and her lamb that moved to ridge top 1 mile south of Thacker Pond in the Double Hs.  Carl also saw a few mature domestic rams in Muratore's field with the lambs.  Mike Cox spoke with John Olagaray on 10/16 and John confirmed he brought a few rams to graze with the lambs but they will be removed end of October.  John confirmed there are no adult ewes in estrous in any of the KRV fields.  John also corrected the total numbers of domestics on the KRV fields to 2,800 total with about 700 in each of 4 fields at anyone time.

Dalton Kinamon, NDOW seasonal got eyes on all the collared bighorn in the Rock and Pole Canyons in MMs and confirmed we have a GPS collar on a ewe that has failed.

Locations of GPS Collared Bighorn sheep on Montana Mtns Oct 1 - There are 14 GPS collar bighorn sheep and their lambs from this year on the mountain.  Most of the collared bighorn sheep are in the Pole and Rock Creek drainages to the NE about 15 miles away.  But there is a group of 3 ewes that are down on the west escarpment only 4 miles from the north field the domestics are on.  To view them take dirt road that runs along the west side of the escarpment from Thacker Pass Road  1.75 miles north to a 2-track that runs up to the base of the escarpment.  There are a couple small spring heads they are watering on and hanging in the vicinity of the springs.  One solo ewe moved south from the main herd across Thacker Pass Road and is hanging on the escarpment 3/4 mile south of Thacker Pond.

John Olagaray, the woolgrower , trucked his 2,000 domestic sheep lambs up to Kings River Valley on Sept 18 & 19.  They were separated into 2 alfalfa fields, about 1,000 lambs on each field.  One field is a little over 2 miles west of Thacker Pond and just south of the main Thacker Pass Road.  The other field is just half mile north off the NW corner of first field.  We don't know how long they will be using those fields before they are trailed to other fields.