Ailing bighorn sheep captured, moved

LEWISTON, Idaho — Wildlife managers in Idaho and Washington have captured eight sick bighorn sheep and transferred the animals to a research facility in South Dakota.

The herd, which lives near the mouth of the Grande Ronde River, has often had lambs die from pneumonia. But earlier this year wildlife officials found that some of the ewes were carrying a new strain of the disease that was killing both adults and lambs.

Workers from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game used a helicopter to remove the eight ewes before the start of mating season, which usually begins later this month.

The animals were moved to a research facility at South Dakota State University. Scientists at the facility are studying pneumonia.