Agencies Plan to Radio Collar Hells Canyon Sheep

LEWISTON - The Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife plan to capture 70 bighorn sheep in eight Hells Canyon herds beginning January 2, 2006, as part of the ongoing Hells Canyon Initiative to restore bighorn sheep populations to the area. The sheep will be captured by netgunning from a helicopter. Biologists will take health samples, radio-collar the sheep, and release them on site. This project is part of research to determine movements, survival, and productivity, and factors limiting population growth of resident bighorn sheep in Hells Canyon. The operation is made possible through the cooperative efforts of Shikar-Safari, The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Safari Club International, the state wildlife agencies, the U. S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.