NRI assists GOHUNT and NDOW team with a bighorn sheep research

In a recent desert bighorn sheep capture, NRI's Marcus Blum assisted the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) to collect data to assess the herd's health and determine if individuals were chronic shedders of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (pneumonia). During this sheep capture, individuals were fitted with radio collars, and a handful of metrics were taken to assess health and learn more about how individuals are doing during the current disease outbreak. Luckily, the GOHUNT team was able to assist with the Lone Mountain collaring efforts and capture the remarkable work done by a crew of 16 volunteers. Alongside the Nevada state wildlife veterinarian, Blum's role was to ultrasound the females for pregnancy status and assess body condition of all captured individuals, which you can see at the 4:00 minute mark. 

NRI's Marcus Blum conducting an ultrasound. Photo by Brady Miller.

Data collection and pneumonia testing. Photo by Brady Miller.

This unique and native herd in Nevada has unfortunately seen an 80 percent decline in population in the last few years, and biologists estimate that there are fewer than 100 left in the area, largely due to the bacterial pneumonia outbreak. By conducting a capture and release, scientists can test for carriers to support the growth of the remaining herd.

NRI's most recent bighorn research includes studying the spatial ecology, habitat use, and survival of desert bighorn sheep, as a part of conservation efforts with the goals of increasing distribution and abundance (i.e., putting and keeping sheep on the mountain). Ideally, this work will provide scientific information to help inform on-the-ground management decisions using spatially explicit data that identifies and prioritizes areas and habitats that benefit sheep's long-term persistence and health.

Bighorn sheep capture and release with NDOW