Bighorns Coming

Sun., Feb. 13, 2000

Staff Reports

Hells Canyon

Two new bighorn herds are being established with fresh transplants in the Hells Canyon area this winter, part of a long-term effort to fill vacant wild sheep habitat.

About 40 bighorns are expected to be trucked in soon from Canada.

The releases and health research are geared to restoring wild sheep in this portion of Idaho, Washington and Oregon. About 300 bighorns died in the canyon during a mysterious respiratory disease outbreak in the winter of 1995-96.

The project is funded primarily by the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, which has committed $10 million over 20 years to bring bighorns back in the region.

Sheep in the project area, which includes the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon, are increasing slightly. About 780 bighorns live in 15 herds. Newly established herds are doing well and expanding rapidly. Herds affected by the die-off are not.

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