It's 10 degrees cooler this morning than yesterday (33 degrees) but it'll be getting warmer soon.
I arrive on the island and debate about heading down to the Ranch - I was just down there yesterday. But anything can happen with animals moving a bout so it's definitely worth the trip.
Well as I drive down, not much has changed except the bison herds near the mountains have moved just a little bit.
I reach the Ranch and notice lots of folks at the start of the dirt road that leads to the Sentry Trail. Also, the Ranch's parking is packed with trucks - quite strange. But then I notice many, many DNR folks. I know they just relocated 15 California Bighorn sheep from the island to the Fillmore UT area on Jan 11; perhaps they're relocating more. Hmmmmm!
I actually drive off towards White Rock all the way thinking that I could be missing a bighorn sheep relocation effort. When I reach White Rock, I have to go back to the Ranch and see what's happening so off I go!
I get to the Ranch just as a helicopter takes off -- they are doing a capture/relocation!! Yes!
I park in the overflow horse parking and start down the road to the med check area. When I get there they are working on 4 rams. They are monitoring heart rate and temperature - the normal temp is around 100 degrees but a few have temps of 105. A couple have IVs which I assume is to address the temperature problems. They are getting their teeth checked and mouth swabbed,
blood tests,
fecal sampled, measured in length and "waist-line", and some vitamin shots. They are also getting an ultra sound which I could understand if they were females (pregnancy check) but they are males. Why? (I find out later that they are checking the body fat % of each animal.)
Also all of them are getting sprayed with a water/alcohol mixture on under their legs and bellies to help cool them off.
And finally, some are getting radio collars.
Once complete, the animals are carried to a trailer where they will be un-blindfolded and un-hobbled and allowed to recover.
Lots of people, lots of action and very interesting to watch.
Once these 4 are all in the trailer, the wait begins for the helicopter to return with another set of animals. While waiting, this is what I find out from asking and listening to several of the DNR folks. They are capturing only males today. (And they only captured males a few days back.) The reason mainly because there is a 2:1 male to female ratio on the island. This leads to a very intense/crazy rutting season that appears to be very stressful for the females which, they reason, is why the calving numbers are low -- the females are too stressed.
Also, they are capturing males to because in prior years, they relocated mostly females so they can re-establish areas before the males arrives - if they relocate males first, there are no females to keep them interested in sticking around. The goal for today is 11 animals but I was told that if things are good, they'll take up to 22.
And most important, these animals are being relocated to the Stansbury Mts which is about 1 hour west of Salt Lake. A little history: the Stansburys had a total of 56 bighorn sheep transplanted there in 2005 & 2006 and another 36 in 20008. The numbers grew to an estimated 230 animals by 2015. Unfortunately, a pneumonia struck the herd and biologists estimated as many as half the herd was kill by the disease by March of 2016. These animals are going there to help replenish the herd.
While waiting, I notice 2 bison on the ridge near Sentry Peak.
And a herd of 5 female deer were wandering in the grasses to the west.
Then finally, the sounds of a helicopter with 5 sheep hanging below. (Quite an impressive sight.)
The pilot slowly lets each animal down to the ground.
And then lands a short distance away. The staff/volunteers arrive and place each animal on stretcher
for a weigh-in
and then the physicals begin.
The helicopter takes off for the next batch. Over time the copter starts to the south and moves north to the Sentry Peak area and then moves south again. (Seems like he's having some pro
blems now -- the animals are getting smart.) But once all these 5 animals are done
and a short break for the workers, here comes the helicopter again with two animals.
I can see puffs of steam when they breathe.
And one ram the staff is very excited about - a big ram estimated to be around 7.5 years (oldest one capture today and a couple of days ago).
I leave as they are processing the two. I've seen 11 animals today and I'm sure there were some animals before I came. I think they might get to that 22 number as the helicopter is leaving once again.
Well it didn't end up being a hiking day but something so much better! Incredible experience!!!
