katqanna
Well-known member
9 Bighorn Ewes were captured from the Breaks, transplanted to the Pioneer Mountains this Sat. That is the good news.
I got an email from a biologist this morning and just got details on the phone. From Helena, they are seeing about adding this discussion to this Thursdays commission meeting on conducting a test of sorts. The discussion has been floating around of possibly taking a population that has had a number of die offs, which is lingering, no or low lamb recruitment and removing the population by hunts. The question of whether to transplant or wait a short period before transplanting is another facet to the discussion. Then they transplant from another population, hoping to restore a healthy population to the landscape. I have heard this discussion before with some biologists. It has not been done here in Montana, so if attempted, this would be new.
The proposed area for this hypothetical discussion and possible test is the Tendoys (south of Butte, north of Idaho Falls) - a herd of about 50 (10 rams, 40 ewes). They have experienced a number of die offs with no rebounding, little to no lamb recruitment. This population had augments from several source herds.
One of the biological questions has been, can a bighorn population develop an acquired immunity over generations? If so, how long would that take? What of the genetics?
So far there is nothing on the commission schedule, as this is being worked on right now, but if it definitely gets added and a time slot, I will post as soon as I am notified for those of you that want to attend or listen to the audio online.
edit: misspell in title, cant edit titles.
I got an email from a biologist this morning and just got details on the phone. From Helena, they are seeing about adding this discussion to this Thursdays commission meeting on conducting a test of sorts. The discussion has been floating around of possibly taking a population that has had a number of die offs, which is lingering, no or low lamb recruitment and removing the population by hunts. The question of whether to transplant or wait a short period before transplanting is another facet to the discussion. Then they transplant from another population, hoping to restore a healthy population to the landscape. I have heard this discussion before with some biologists. It has not been done here in Montana, so if attempted, this would be new.
The proposed area for this hypothetical discussion and possible test is the Tendoys (south of Butte, north of Idaho Falls) - a herd of about 50 (10 rams, 40 ewes). They have experienced a number of die offs with no rebounding, little to no lamb recruitment. This population had augments from several source herds.
One of the biological questions has been, can a bighorn population develop an acquired immunity over generations? If so, how long would that take? What of the genetics?
So far there is nothing on the commission schedule, as this is being worked on right now, but if it definitely gets added and a time slot, I will post as soon as I am notified for those of you that want to attend or listen to the audio online.
edit: misspell in title, cant edit titles.
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