Sheep hitch a ride to new home

About 40 bighorn sheep got an unlikely ride below a red helicopter last week on their way to new homes.

In groups of twos, threes and sometimes five, sheep flew via helicopter into Big Arm State Park Friday from Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake. After the sheep were gently placed on the ground, crews worked quickly to carry the animals to nearby hay bales. The sheep were tested, given medication and loaded into horse trailers for the second half of their journey.

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks were moving the sheep to two sites to augment existing herds. Half the sheep were taken to the East Fork of the Bull River in Sanders County and the others were released on the Kootenai Falls Wildlife Management Area west of Libby.

Wild Horse Island has served as a nursery herd to augment populations over the years. FWP surveys showed that the island population had grown to 200 sheep, more than twice what the island can support.

"It was critical that we move some this year," said Jim Weatherly, executive director of the Montana Wild Sheep Foundation.

The foundation, a conservation organization focused on bighorn sheep, supported the effort by providing the $25,000 to $30,000 to complete the operation, including contracting services to bring in the helicopter.

Timing was critical because the sheep must be transported during the winter months when temperatures are cooler and before ewes begin giving birth. Between both days the sheep captured were two ram lambs, five yearling rams and 34 ewes.

Weatherly said the foundation was able to pull the operation together in a shorter amount of time than FWP.

Leading Edge Aviation, a professional helicopter group, capture the sheep on the island. The helicopter moves in on the sheep and a gunner fires a net at the sheep. A "mugger" drops from the helicopter to hog-ties the sheep and put hoods on their heads and put them in a sling for the flight.

At Bighorn State Park, biologists and veterinarians work to take a throat culture, ear swabs, fecal sample and blood sample for each animal. Every sheep is also given a physical exam, antibiotics and vitamins.

"We're checking the health status of the sheep," said Jennifer Ramsey, FWP wildlife veterinarian. "We need to know what's moved with them — bacteria or parasites that will be moved to the new location."

Volunteers sit with the sheep to keep them calm during the examination. They also monitor the sheeps' temperatures. If the temperature rises too high the sheep is cooled with water.

Weather was a concern Friday as the outside temperature climbed into the 50s. The sheep can also become stressed from being chased on the island, which causes their temperature to rise.

"We want to make sure there isn't problems a few days down the road," said Ramsey.