From http://www.sdgfp.info/GFPnews/News05/02-14-05.htm

February 14, 2005

Custer State Parks Experiences Bighorn Sheep Die-off

PIERRE, S.D. – Game, Fish and Parks biologists working in Custer State Park have reported a die-off of some of the park’s bighorn sheep, possibly from pneumonia.

Gary Brundige, wildlife biologist for Custer State Park, reported that dead bighorn sheep started showing up around the park in late January. A ewe was reported coughing near the airport. Biologists began combing the park and found numerous dead sheep of all age classes from all areas of the park.

"The die-off is consistent with bacterial pneumonia die-offs experienced in bighorn sheep herds found in other western states and provinces," Brundige said.

Samples from two sheep who showed signs of pneumonia were sent to the diagnostic laboratory at South Dakota State University in Brookings. Pneumonia was confirmed, however the exact cause and strain of the pneumonia have not been identified. Additional samples are being analyzed.

Brundige said the Custer State Park bighorn sheep herd had numbered approximately 200 during the rut this past December. "There has been significant mortality from this die-off within the park," he said. "However, biologists for the park and for the Division of Wildlife are closely monitoring herds found near Rapid City, the Spring Creek drainage and Hill City and have found no signs of a bighorn sheep loss in these areas. The die-off seems to be contained within the Park herd."

Brundige expects additional diagnostic testing to take a week before the exact cause of the pneumonia can be identified.

-GFP-

I have heard this die off is due to contact with domestic sheep! Thus causing the sheep to contract pneumonia.

Just a bit more in the press yesterday at: http://espn.go.com/outdoors/conservation/news/2005/0310/2009612.html

S.D. bighorn sheep killed by pneumonia
By Wayne Ortman
Associated Press — March 10, 2005
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — An outbreak of pneumonia has killed dozens of bighorn sheep in South Dakota's Custer State Park.

Biologist Gary Brundige says 175 of the park's 200 bighorns may have died. A lot of dead animals are in remote places, so the park is guessing at the extent of the die off based on how many live animals they see.

Officials suspect one or more of the park sheep picked up the disease through contact with domestic sheep, which can carry the bacteria and not get sick.

Brundige says he doesn't think the disease has spread to other bighorn herds in the black hills.

Because of the die off, the park may have to transplant bighorn sheep from other herds. The state also may suspend this year's hunting season that offers three licenses for bighorn rams in the park.

From the March 14, 2005 edition of the South Dakota GFP News (http://www.sdgfp.info/GFPnews/News05/03-14-05.asp)

No Custer State Park Bighorn Sheep Season Planned

PIERRE, S.D. – A recent die-off of bighorn sheep within Custer State Park has prompted the Game, Fish and Parks Commission to propose that no hunting season be held in 2005.

An outbreak of pneumonia swept through the Parks’ bighorn sheep in January and February and resulted in the loss of up to 75 percent of the population. The Park has been able to locate 40-50 surviving bighorn sheep and those have displayed little sign of the illness.

"We are now hopeful that the disease has run its course and these animals will survive to repopulate the Park," according to Gary Brundige, Custer State Park wildlife biologist. "Rams have dispersed into the back country and we will not know the total loss until they return to the breeding grounds next fall."

The veterinary diagnostic laboratory at South Dakota State University verified that the bighorns had been hit by a strain of bacterial pneumonia, but were unable to verify the strain. The progression and timing of the disease was consistent with similar outbreaks in various bighorn sheep herds found throughout the western United States and Canadian provinces following contact between domestic sheep and other bighorn herds.

Efforts to monitor the effects of the disease on the herd and to prevent the spread of the disease to bighorn herds outside Custer State Park are continuing. There has been no evidence of the disease in any of the other bighorn sheep herds in the Black Hills.

Brundige said the park would be recommending a conservative approach to re-establishing the park’s bighorn sheep population. "There is a potential we may not have a hunting season for the next couple of years, depending on what we find for our herd’s health and how re-population efforts progress."

Hunters who have applied for the Custer State Park bighorn sheep season over the past few years and who have accumulated preference for the drawing will not lose that preference. The preference will be held by the big game license system until the time when the Custer State Park bighorn sheep season is reinstated.

To comment on the proposals, people can attend the public hearing at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 7, at the Swiftel Center in Brookings, or write Game, Fish and Parks, 523 E. Capitol, Pierre, S.D. 57501. E-mail comments can be sent to wildinfo@state.sd.us. Comments must include full name and address.

-GFP-

Archive Number 20050312.0729
Published Date 12-MAR-2005
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (SD)(02)


PNEUMONIA, BIGHORN SHEEP - USA (SOUTH DAKOTA) (02)
************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Fri 11 Mar 2005 4:22 PM
From: Dr. Sam D. Holland <Dr.Holland@state.sd.us>


I attach here a message I received today from The Game, Fish and Parks
(GF&P) Department officials on the bighorn sheep loss at Custer State Park
in South Dakota. Clearly more needs to be done on this if we are to
understand it.

--
Sam D Holland, DVM
State Veterinarian, Exec. Secy.
South Dakota Animal Industry Board
411 South Fort St
Pierre, SD 57501
<Dr.Holland@state.sd.us>

The results to date are limited and from conversations with Dr Holler at
the Vet Diagnostic Lab. We sacrificed 3 animals, a collared
non-symptomatic ewe, and a yearling ewe observed coughing on 2 Feb [2005],
and a 4-year-old ram observed coughing on 23 Feb [2005]. Histology on the
1st 2 specimens identified bacterial pneumonia in the ewe coughing and none
in the other. Bacteriology was inconclusive. A _Mycoplasma_ spp was
cultured and was sent out for species identification.

The ram was sacrificed and sampled to try and get a positive culture on the
primary pathogen. Again histology was conclusive for bacterial
pneumonia. Gross examination when samples were being collected showed
large adhesions of the anterior right lung lobe to the chest cavity with
large abscesses. Adhesions to the diaphragm were also present. Pneumonia
was extensive. Examination at the lab also showed adhesions to the pericardium.

Gross and histological examinations were consistent with _Pasteurella_
pneumonias observed by Dr. Holler from feedlot domestic lambs. Bacteriology
was only successful in culturing _Arcanobacteria_, which was considered to
be a secondary pathogen. Dr. Holler thought there should have been
_Pasteurella_ present and considered it may have been the primary pathogen,
and for one reason or another was unculturable (successfully fought off by
the animal, which died before sampling).

Discussions with other bighorn biologists indicate _Pasteurella_ is often
very difficult to successfully retrieve from samples. There seems to be
some thought that the _Pasteurella_ had already run its course and was no
longer present, and the symptomatic sheep were survivors that were fighting
secondary infections. We have noted mortality across all age classes and
sexes. Current estimates are that mortality has approached 75 percent. Rams
have dispersed, and a full assessment of mortality, especially of mature
rams, won't be possible until the rut next fall.

[Our thanks to Sam for this report from SDGFP. - Mod.MHJ]