WILDLIFE -- Bighorn sheep near in Lincoln County near Lake Roosevelt will wearing new neck gear for research later this month.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife plans use a helicopter contractor capture to bighorns from the Lincoln Cliffs herd on Feb. 10, weather permitting.

Up to 20 of the wild sheep will be ear-tagged and nine will be equipped with GPS tracking collars, said Carrie Lowe, state wildlife biologist. The sheep will be released so biologists can better monitor their movements, productivity, and survival.

The sheep will be captured with nets shot from the helicopter, then transported to a staging area for handling and blood sampling by a ground crew.

The department is working to secure permission to access private land in the Lincoln and Whitestone Rock areas near the Lake Roosevelt shoreline for the work.