Transplant effort nets 49 bighorns

A total of 49 bighorn sheep were being transplanted from Wild Horse Island to the Tendoy mountains 40 miles south of Dillon by the end of Saturday.

One sheep died during the three-day operation conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

“Any mortalities are regrettable, but one out of 50 is pretty successful,” said Jim Williams, the state’s Region One wildlife manager.

He noted that there were no deaths during capture operations on the Flathead Lake island over the last two years.

On Thursday and Friday, 29 sheep were captured, requiring a busy day of work Saturday to capture 21 more to reach the goal of 50.

A helicopter crew captured sheep on the island and flew them to Big Arm State Park. From there the bighorns were taken by trailer to the Dillon area.

The project is aimed at boosting the Tendoy herd and curbing the Wild Horse Island population, which numbered 230 before last week.

The project got the island population closer to an objective of 125, but Williams noted the population soon will increase again with this spring’s crop of lambs.

The objective for the 50-animal Tendoy herd is to eventually increase it to 200 animals.

“Hopefully that herd down in the Tendoys will flourish with this influx of new animals,” Williams said.

Funding for the project, estimated to cost about $30,000, was provided by the auction of a single ram hunting permit by the Wild Sheep Foundation. Last month, the permit was auctioned off to a New York man for $300,000.

The money from this single sheep hunting license pays for sheep augmentation projects, purchase of sheep habitat and other conservation measures for bighorn sheep in Montana.