Bighorn Sheep Disease Testing Nevada FY17
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Project ID: 4157
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2017
Submitted By:
557
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Project Manager: Justin Shannon
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Salt Lake Office
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Salt Lake Office
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Description:
Desert bighorn sheep were disease tested in Nevada during the fall of 2016. Utah FNAWS committed to pay for half of the testing costs. Fifty bighorn sheep were scheduled to be translocate to Utah following the disease testing, but that translocation did not occur because of the results of the disease testing.
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Location:
The disease testing occurred in southern Nevada. These bighorns were scheduled to be translocated to Utah, but the transplant did not occur.
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Project Need
Need For Project:
Bighorn sheep translocations are an important management tool in Utah. Nevada offered to give us 50-75 animals during the winter of 2016-2017. UDWR worked with Nevada to disease test animals prior to the transplant occurring. Utah FNAWS committed to pay half of the disease testing costs.
Objectives:
Disease test desert bighorn sheep in Nevada.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Disease testing occurs prior to transplants to ensure that the animals being moved are free of mycoplasma and other diseases. UDWR does not want to move diseases between bighorn populations.
Relation To Management Plan:
UDWR management plans call for managing healthy and robust populations of bighorn sheep. Before conducting translocations, it is appropriate to capture a subsample of animals in the source population to test for diseases. This helps ensure that our management actions do not introduce new diseases to existing populations.
Fire / Fuels:
n/a
Water Quality/Quantity:
n/a
Compliance:
n/a
Methods:
Bighorns were captured via net gun, and biological samples (blood, nasal swabs, pharyngeal swabs, etc.) were taken by trained biologists and veterinarians. Samples were then tested for a variety of diseases.
Monitoring:
Captured animals were fitted with radio-collars, and survival rates of bighorn sheep in the source herd will be monitored over the next year. One animal came back with a questionable result, and this population will be disease tested again next year.
Partners:
NDOW, Utah FNAWS, and UDWR have all partnered in this project.
Future Management:
Nevada has a surplus of desert bighorns sheep in some of their populations. If their populations remain disease free, UDWR will accept bighorn sheep from these populations to grow herds in Utah.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
n/a
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $0.00 | $11,500.00 | $11,500.00 | $0.00 | $11,500.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | $0.00 | $11,500.00 | $0.00 | 2017 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $0.00 | $11,500.00 | $11,500.00 | $0.00 | $11,500.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
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| Utah Wild Sheep Foundation | Utah FNAWS will pay $11,500 directly to NDOW for disease testing costs. | $0.00 | $11,500.00 | $0.00 | 2017 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank | ||||
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| Bighorn Sheep | N4 | R2 | ||||
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Habitats
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Project Comments
Completion
Start Date:
10/01/2016
End Date:
05/23/2017
FY Implemented:
2017
Final Methods:
Bighorn sheep were disease tested in Nevada.
Project Narrative:
In fall 2016, bighorn sheep in Nevada were disease tested. This population is used as source stock for Utah. FNAWS directly paid NDOW for the testing.
Future Management:
Utah takes bighorn sheep from Nevada on regular basis, and it is important that disease testing is conducted prior to transplants.
Map Features
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Project Map
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