03/16/2026
Here are photos from a recent bighorn sheep monitoring effort in the Blue Mountains.
In this rugged landscape, biologists, tribal partners and volunteers work side by side to monitor and test bighorn sheep, working to protect the animals and prevent a dangerous bacterium from spreading through the herd.
Between Feb. 24–26, teams from the Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Idaho Fish and Game, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), and the Nez Perce Tribe came together with a shared goal: protecting and sustaining bighorn sheep populations.
The work is about more than wildlife management. It also honors cultural traditions and supports the restoration of ecological balance.