Bighorns no More?

Bighorns no More?. . On August 1st, 1805, William Clark celebrated his 35th birthday by shooting a bighorn sheep as he passed through the Jefferson River Canyon. , When the Corps of Discovery explored this area, bighorn sheep were common here. Later in the century hunting pressure and disease from domestic sheep wiped bighorns out of the London Hills. Today the Park's management plan calls for the reintroduction of these awe-inspiring animals to Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park. Notice the dry rocky bunchgrass habitat. Would this suit the needs of the bighorn? Stop for a moment and try to imagine the echoing sound of clashing horns ringing throughout the canyon walls. , "about noon Capt. Clark killed a Mountain Sheep out of a flock on the Side of a reddish hill or cliffs on (South) Side. he shot it across the river and the rest of the flock ran up the cliffs which was nearly Steep. the one killed rolled down some distance when it fell. we got it and dined hearty on it." Sgt. Ordway - August 1, 1805 , Today management of some big game species are influenced by age-old diseases transferred between domestic and wild animal populations. Big horn sheep are an example of animals affected by old world diseases. Lungworm, blue tongue, and particularly pasteurella pneumonia created heart problems that, along with unchecked hunting greatly reduced the numbers of bighorn sheep here in the western United States. Understanding these diseases and establishing wildlife management plans will help bring sheep back to this area.