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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2017)
Wednesday, March 1, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon ODFW steps up disease monitoring SALEM — ODFW is increasing disease monitor- ing in California bighorn sheep throughout Oregon this year as part of ongo- ing research with Oregon State University and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). ODFW traditionally relo- cates sheep each year as part of a years-long effort to restore this rare species to its historic range in Oregon. But these relocation efforts are on hold this year while wild- life managers learn more about Mycoplasma ovipneu- monia (M. Ovi, the bacteria primarily responsible for infectious pneumonia in big- horn sheep). In the last few weeks, ODFW wildlife biologists and veterinarians have sam- pled 54 bighorn sheep in southeastern Oregon. Paired with previous year’s cap- ture efforts, this brings the total of disease-sampled and collared California bighorn sheep to more than 100. Concerns about how M. Ovi is impacting Oregon’s wild sheep populations have grown since a die-off of the Lower Owyhee bighorn sheep herd in 2015-16. Also that year, the Nevada Dept of Wildlife made the diffi- cult decision to eliminate an entire herd of sick bighorn sheep just south of Oregon’s border to stop the spread of M. ovi to neighboring populations. Respiratory disease has killed numerous wild sheep in Oregon and other Western states over the past few decades and is consid- ered the largest risk to wild sheep populations. Once a herd is infected, an all-age die off can occur and the dis- ease remains chronic in the population. Disease treatment in free- ranging populations of sheep is not practical, so wildlife managers strive to keep wild and domestic sheep and goats separate to avoid transmission of the disease. Working collaboratively through WAFWA and its Wild Sheep Working Group, Western state wildlife agen- cies are also evaluating how herds respond to the disease, the risk of translocating ani- mals between herds infected with identical strains of the disease and how to increase survival rates of wild sheep. Disease monitoring involved taking a variety of samples from each sheep after they were captured by helicopter by Quicksilver Air. These include blood, nasal and tonsillar swabs, and fecal samples looking at a variety of pathogens affect- ing bighorn sheep. These tests can help answer ques- tions as to whether bighorn sheep have active infections, have been exposed in the past, and how well an indi- vidual sheep may be able to fight off infections. “When we get our hands on an animal we take full advantage and try to maxi- mize what we learn from it,” says Julia Burco, ODFW wildlife veterinarian. “These samples will give us a much better understanding of the extent of the bacteria in Oregon’s sheep, if infections are active, and if wild sheep can fight it off and survive.” Each sheep was also fitted with a GPS collar to track its movements. The samples taken are now being tested by Oregon State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory with results expected later this month. Samples from previ- ous years showed there are different strains of M. ovi affecting Oregon’s sheep herds. Testing will also help determine if the strain that eliminated the Nevada herd spread to Oregon’s sheep. Successful bighorn sheep hunters have also provided samples and helped in track- ing pneumonia in Oregon bighorn sheep herds. Of 43 hunter-harvested sheep tested in 2015, three sheep from the Owyhee herd were actively shedding the bacte- ria. Results from the 2016 hunting season are not yet available. Oregon is home to about 3,700 California bighorn sheep in 32 different herds in central and southeast Oregon. There are also about 800 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in northeast Oregon. PROGRAM: Older children often help younger ones Continued from page 1 program is officially in its first full year, although he and other staff members have included transition activities in students’ days for the past five years. “Over the years we have served youth in a wide variety of capacities,” he said. “The goal is to design a program to meet individual needs as best as possible while balanc- ing the needs of the collec- tive. We currently have eight active transition students, then when we do our community activities we take 13 to 17 students.” The program provides training in independent living skills, career and vocational training, recreation and lei- sure, social and interpersonal issues, community connec- tions and post-secondary options. 31 Nordell believes success comes from a cooperative approach. “It’s a group of people who are willing to work together, care about each other; willing to question and challenge each other, but at the end of the day knowing we are on the same team,” he said. “No matter if you’re an elementary student, parent or in middle school, high school or trying to figure out how to be an adult or in a position of leadership. We are in this together, so let’s work together to do life better.” Dan Saraceno, a youth transition specialist who works with the program, said older children often end up helping younger ones. 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