Yakima area bighorns

Many members of the Umtanum (West side of Yakima RIver) and Selah Butte (East side of Yakima River)bighorn herds are suffering from a form of pneumonia that potentially could wipe out an entire herd and spred to other noninfected animals. Because of this, next week Washington State Wildlife officials will begin killing all of those exhibiting signs of the disease (it is believed there could be as many as 90; maybe more). There are about 260 animals in the two herds combined. (There are other herds in the Yakima Kittitas Counties area-the total number of animals is believed to be around 800.) The "Yakima Herald-Republic" story on February 10 is titled: "Killing Bighorns in Order to Save Them." While that is true, it is still a very sad situation. Hopefully, this will solve the problem and the rest of the herd will survive.

Jim, that's a really tough story to read. As you said, it may be necessary to save the herds, but what a sacrifice.

For those interested, here's the article Jim mentions.

And here's an earlier article on OPB.

I fish the Yakima Canyon fairly often and I'm really saddened to hear this. I'm not always a supporter of human intervention unless it's obvious man is the cause but it would be a travesty to stand by and watch these awesome Bighorns disappear. Thanks for the info.