SALEM, ORE.—Wildlife biologists and veterinarians from ODFW successfully captured 29 bighorn sheep from an area near Rufus yesterday and relocated the animals to Baker and Malheur counties.

A helicopter is used to herd and capture the bighorns.

The bighorns came from what is known as the “I-84 herd,” because they can be seen right off the freeway, and will be used to supplement existing herds as part of the state’s continued efforts to recover bighorn sheep in Oregon.

“The I-84 herd is outgrowing the habitat available,” explained Steve Cherry, ODFW district wildlife biologist in Heppner. “We are moving them to new areas of the state so we can continue restoring bighorn sheep to Oregon.”

The I-84 herd was first noticed in the mid-1990s; wildlife biologists believe they migrated from the John Day River Canyon after a wildfire.

Public safety concerns also played a role in the decision to move part of the herd. Drivers often stop along the freeway to look at the sheep, which is unlawful and dangerous to other drivers. Wildlife biologists are also concerned a sheep might wander out onto the freeway.

“Our maintenance crews have observed cars, sometimes several at a time, pulling over and parking right off the freeway, with drivers and passengers getting out for a look at the sheep,” noted Sam Wilkins, Oregon Department of Transportation District Manager.  “It’s just not the best place for people to be observing sheep.”

Drivers can get off at the Blalock or Philippi Canyon exits on I-84 and pull over to the side of the road. With a good pair of binoculars, the sheep can often be seen from these areas. Bighorns can also be viewed nearby along the Lower Deschutes River from Mack’s Canyon Road between Oakbrook and Mack's Canyon. Typically, rams can be seen between Oakbrook and Jones Canyon from May through September and upstream of Mack's Canyon from August through October. Also, ewes and lambs can be seen near Beavertail Campground and the rims on the east side of Cedar Island from April through August. 

When they reach base camp, the bighorns are immediately unhooked from the helicopter and quickly processed by biologists and veterinarians before being moved onto transport vehicles. Blindfolds are used to decrease stress to the bighorns.

During yesterday’s operations, a helicopter was used to herd the animals before they were captured with a net fired from a specially designed gun. Once captured, the sheep were hoisted in the air by the helicopter and taken to a location where ODFW biologists and veterinarians, plus volunteers from the Oregon Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wildlife Sheep (FNAWS), processed the animals. Each bighorn sheep was disease-tested and most were fitted with a transmitter so their movements can be tracked as part of the department’s ongoing bighorn sheep research. Oregon Department of Transportation staff and Oregon State Police were on hand during the operation to keep drivers moving along I-84 and assist with the capture operation.

Of the 29 bighorn sheep captured, 12 were rams, 13 were ewes and four were lambs. Nine bighorns will go to the Burnt River Canyon near Baker City and 20 will go to the Owyhee River Canyon in Malheur County. Also this week, the department plans to relocate 20 sheep from the John Day River Canyon to Riverside Wildlife Area in Malheur County and 10 sheep from the Deschutes River Canyon to French Glen in Harney County.

In addition, ODFW will capture about 30 bighorn sheep in the Lower Deschutes River Canyon and outfit the animals with transmitters so it can study this growing population. Funding for the research comes from grants provided by the Oregon Hunters Association and the Oregon and Minnesota-Wisconsin chapters of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS).

Bighorn sheep are one of the rarest game mammals in Oregon today. They were extirpated from the state by the 1940s due to unregulated hunting and their susceptibility to domestic livestock diseases. Less than 100 bighorn sheep tags are offered to hunters each year on a “once-in-a-lifetime” hunt basis. ODFW also auctions a bighorn sheep tag each year at an event sponsored by a sportsmen conservation group; proceeds from the sale benefit the management of bighorn sheep. Last year, an auctioned bighorn sheep tag went for $120,000. Sportsmen conservation organizations like FNAWS also contribute monies to fund bighorn sheep recovery across North America.

The first successful bighorn sheep relocation in Oregon occurred in 1954, when 20 California bighorns were located from British Columbia to the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Lake County. Since then, the population of bighorn sheep has grown to an estimated 3,500-3,700. A small population of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep live in the Wallowa Mountains; the rest of the animals in the state are California bighorn sheep. ODFW generally relocates 20-80 bighorn sheep annually with the ultimate goal of creating healthy bighorn sheep populations in all available, suitable habitats within Oregon.

ODFW staff and a wildlife veterinarian tend to a bighorn. Several veterinarians are on hand during capture operations to monitor the bighorn’s health and make medical decisions.

Two I-84 rams on their way to the Owyhee River Canyon in Malheur County, where they will supplement an existing bighorn sheep herd.