Utah doesn’t have enough sheep-
Several months ago we reported on this plan to augment a dwindling population of bighorn in these relatively unknown south central Wyoming mountains. At any rate, Utah bighorn haven’t done well this year, so the project is canceled.
Plans to release 40 Utah bighorn in Wyoming Seminole Mtns Canceled. AP
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
I read an article yesterday that said WY G&F is moving 12 animals from Bighorn Canyon to the Ferris Mtns.
Have they looked in places like Montana, Idaho, Washington, or Colorado?
Just like the Ferris Mtn herd the original stock of sheep in Bighorn Canyon came from Whiskey Mtn and their adjustment to the lower elevation range was unsuccessful. About 6-7 years ago low elevation sheep from MT were brought to Bighorn Canyon and they have done well. Now that they are doing well they are thinking they could spare a dozen sheep to enrich the genetics of the OR sheep recentrly released.
Sounds like a ranching operation with all this swapping.