Two bighorn sheep from a distance, in the winter.

Bighorn Sheep

When Bighorn sheep are near domestic sheep and goats, they are at risk of contracting pneumonia.

WSU’s Field Disease Investigation Unit (FDIU) is leading a public outreach and education program in an effort to promote the health of domestic sheep and goats, and reduce the risk of pneumonia outbreaks in bighorn sheep in Hells Canyon.

We are in a unique region where bighorn sheep habitat overlaps with areas grazed by sheep and goats, as well as hobby animals kept as pets by landowners. The FDIU is working with a team of agency, industry, and private partners to have conversations with the public about this disease and develop solutions to preserve two of the region’s icons; sheep and goat production, and bighorn sheep.

Pneumonia in bighorn sheep can cause up to a 90% mortality rate in bighorn sheep lambs. This can continue to occur in a bighorn sheep herd for several years and ultimately results in significant population loss. In domestic sheep and goats, the disease varies from no symptoms to mild pneumonia, though deaths are seen occasionally in newly exposed herds. Research shows that lambs from flocks free of the disease have slightly higher weaning weights and carcass yield than lambs from positive flocks.

Our outreach program offers free, confidential disease screening for domestic sheep and goats, as well as working with owners to develop farm specific herd health and biosecurity programs, and encouraging the use of bighorn sheep deterrents such as electric fencing and livestock guardian dogs.

You can help to promote awareness of the disease risk to bighorn sheep by encouraging conversations with people in your region, and domestic sheep and goat owners can take advantage of free biosecurity and pneumonia pathogen testing. We are more than happy to visit with you about the details of this project, email Katy Heaton.

  • Biosecurity tips and tricks Biosecurity includes practices or procedures that are put in place to reduce the risk of pathogens between animals or humans.
  • Here’s the good news! As of 2019, most bighorn sheep herds in Hells Canyon are M.ovi free thanks to the hard work of regional wildlife biologists. You can help keep our local bighorn sheep herds healthy!
  • What’s the big deal about M.ovi? Mycoplasma ovipneumonia (M.ovi) is a bacterium that can cause fatal pneumonia outbreaks in bighorn sheep.

So you want to be M.ovi free?

  • STEP 1: Contact us for screening for your sheep and goats. We recommend annual screening.
  • STEP 2: Fencing is key for keeping bighorn sheep and domestic goats and sheep separate.
  • STEP 3: Practice biosecurity methods for animals including sanitization and quarantine.
  • STEP 4: Report bighorn sheep sightings to local Department of Fish & Wildlife office if they are at risk of contact with domestic animals.