Bighorn Sheep Captured in Panhandle

Feb. 26, 2019, 12:10 p.m. ·

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission partnered with South Dakota State University for a bighorn sheep capture in the panhandle this month.


Team processes bighorn sheep in the Wildcat Hills near McGrew (Photo courtesy of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)

Wildlife professionals from the Game and Parks Commission, the Henry Doorly and Lincoln Zoos, along with others captured 48 sheep.

According to Will Inselman, assistant division administrator of the Wildlife Research section at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the main goal of the capture was to monitor the health of the bighorn population.

“We take all kinds of measurements," Inselman said. "We’re taking blood samples, we’re giving them anti-biotic injections, we’re taking DNA samples, we take nose and throat swabs to test for pneumonia and other potential bacteria or diseases they may have."

The helicopter crew closes in on a pair of ewes in the Wildcat Hills (Photo courtesy of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)

The Panhandle is home to two herds of bighorns. One at Pine Ridge in the northwest corner of the state near Chadron and the other herd is near the Wildcat Hills in the Scottsbluff area.

Inselman said the Pine Ridge herd has steadily lost population because of pneumonia outbreaks. He said many lambs don’t survive the childhood stage because of pneumonia.

During the recent capture, the professionals singled out seven sheep which had been repeatedly sick with pneumonia and took them back to South Dakota State for more research. Inselman said they hope the removal of these sheep will help the herd at Pine Ridge overcome pneumonia and have a chance to grow.