AZLance Report post Posted November 29, 2013 Newly relocated bighorn found dead in Catalina's One of the bighorn sheep released into the wild in the Santa Catalina Mountains has been found dead. The Arizona Game and Fish Department said Friday the dead ram was discovered Wednesday. Thirty-one of the bighorns were released Nov. 18 in the mountains after being captured and relocated from the Yuma area. The dead animal was found along the eastern edge of Sutherland Ridge near Romero Canyon, said Mark Hart, an agency spokesman, in a news release. The discovery was made after a mortality signal from the sheeps GPS radio collar was detected during an aerial survey. All but one of the bighorn sheep were fitted with the collars. The cause of death of the 4-year-old ram is under investigation. Samples were collected from the carcass for analysis. Hart said possible causes are injuries that may have occurred during or after capture, including myopathy or acute acidosis cause by stress that can lead to heart failure. Other possible causes are a fall, a predator or disease. Toxicology results from the ram are expected by Dec. 6 or early the following week. Any time we undertake a translocation of wildlife, mortalities are to be expected, said regional supervisor Raul Vega. Our intent is to minimize mortalities within this population by all available means. The dead ram was one of six adult males released. The population includes 24 ewes and one yearling ram. The sheep were transplanted to the Catalinas in an effort to rebuild a herd that died out there in the 1990s. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted November 30, 2013 I saw that article today. I know the last herd's demise came from biological reasons. I hope this herd, multiplies and stay's healthy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Kid Report post Posted December 1, 2013 dang that was quick wonder what killed it probably had a heart attack running from a lion lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLW Report post Posted December 4, 2013 more on the story.... turns out it was 2 and they have killed 2 mt lions so far. http://www.kvoa.com/news/two-mountain-lions-killed-after-big-horn-sheep-found-dead/#!prettyPhoto/0/ James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesRanger Report post Posted December 5, 2013 Just read your article it says two ewes and one ram total of three. Wow sad to hear but happy to hear the first two were lions and not poachers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lefty Report post Posted December 5, 2013 i had to work in tucson this week and all the news reports say that the sheep were killed by lions and that g & f killed 2 lions in the area. big surprise right Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
