Bighorn Sheep Near the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park are Dying from Pneumonia
Bighorn sheep near the northern entrance of Yellowstone National Park are dying from pneumonia. Pneumonia outbreaks in bighorn sheep are often associated with contact with domestic sheep or goats which carry many pathogens that cause pneumonia in bighorn sheep but do not affect domestic sheep or goats.
According to a press release by Montana FWP, in the past two weeks, FWP staff members have collected ten dead bighorn sheep – a mix of rams, lambs, and one adult ewe.
The Wildlife News readers will recall that a bighorn sheep was observed last year in the same pasture as several domestic sheep owned by a resident of Gardiner, Montana. It is unknown whether bighorn sheep had any contact with these domestic sheep.