Bighorns moved from Montana to Little Hole

DUTCH JOHN — Forty-two bighorn sheep were released at two sites along the Little Hole Road below Flaming Gorge Reservoir on Jan. 26.

The Sun River area of Montana, on the east side of the Rocky Mountains, was the first place Utah biologists hoped to get sheep from.

Photo by Ron Stewart

The bighorns, nine rams and 33 ewes, were captured from two herds near Missoula, Montana. These bighorns from the Bonner and Rock Creek herds will supplement a herd that was reintroduced near Little Hole two years ago.

"Our original plan was to capture bighorns from a native herd at Willow Creek, just south of the Sun River near Augusta, Montana, on the east side of the Rocky Mountains," says Charlie Greenwood, a wildlife biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). "After high winds delayed the helicopter capture for two days, the Montana biologists shifted us to the west side of the Rockies, to herds outside of Missoula."

In addition to avoiding high winds, being transferred to the west side of the Rockies provided the DWR biologists with some benefits they weren't expecting.

"When we got there and talked with the [Montana] biologists, they were happy to give us a few more sheep than originally requested as they were beginning, or expecting trouble, with managing the herds due to their proximity to local communities," Greenwood says. "Taking ewes and a few young rams from their herds, to supplement or start other herds [in Utah], was an excellent solution to a potential urban/wildlife conflict.

Montana biologists pull a bighorn from the helicopter.

Photo by Ron Stewart

"The only concern with taking more sheep was how to pay for them, but a few phone calls later we had the go ahead. The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep in Utah not only paid for the original numbers, it also agreed to cover the costs for the increase. We were able to bring back 42, instead of 25."

Under a contract with Pathfinder, a helicopter capture team, 27 bighorns were captured using a special net gun. The sheep were captured from the slopes above Bonner, Montana, just seven miles east of Missoula.

After their capture, the bighorns were given a physical examination, and veterinarians from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department took numerous samples and swabs. After their physical, the bighorns were marked with individually numbered ear tags. Some also received radio collars before being placed in a special trailer.

The 27 bighorns captured from Bonner spent the night in the trailer until 15 more sheep from the Rock Creek area were added the following day. The biologists then drove non-stop to Utah and released the bighorns the following morning.

Utah biologists Charlie Greenwood (L) and Vert Keddy attach a radio collar to one of the sheep.

Photo by Ron Stewart

All of the sheep released at the two Little Hole sites emerged from the trailer in good shape. Greenwood and the other biologists believe the new bighorns have excellent genetics.

"Both the Bonner and Rock Creek herds were introduced from bighorns taken from native herds in the Sun River area in the late 1980s," Greenwood says. "I'm impressed with their size, health and potential horn growth. It looks like they have excellent genetics. The ewes all look big and healthy, and even though the rams we acquired were young, none older than 2 1/2, they already have horns reaching back to a half curl."

The Flaming Gorge/Green River area has been a selected reintroduction site for more than 30 years. Biologists from the DWR, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have been enhancing the range in the area in preparation for a release.

A herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep feed on a hillside in the Sun River area of Montana.

Photo by Ron Stewart

The range enhancement was given a big boost in 2001 when the Dutch John fire cleared away large expanses of pinyon-juniper. Following the fire, the DWR and USFS were able to reseed many of the disturbed areas in preparation for the bighorn sheep reintroduction in Little Hole.

"Everything came together," Greenwood said. "From having good range conditions to getting extra bighorns. It should really give this herd a boost."

For those interested in seeing bighorn sheep in northeastern Utah, Greenwood recommends the Sheep Creek Canyon area along the Geologic Loop and SR-44, the Red Canyon Visitor Center area, and now along the Little Hole Road.

Visitors with a boat can also look for sheep along the shores of Flaming Gorge Reservoir. As the Little Hole herd continues to grow, it's also likely that people will see bighorns more often along the cliffs above the Green River.

For more information about viewing bighorn sheep in northeastern Utah, call the DWR's Northeastern Region office at (435) 781-9453.

— Ron Stewart