Bighorn Sheep Project - Seminoe Mountain Range
Observation Report – March 25, 2011
Justin Clapp, WGFD

Bighorn sheep movements in the Seminoe Range have not altered dramatically from previous reports (Feb. 22, 2011), but a tendency to band into larger groups has been recently observed. High winds and warm temperatures melted much of the snowpack on and around Seminoe through the first few weeks of March, leaving most south- facing and low-elevation slopes relatively open.

Recent predations were inspected shortly after predation. Hounds were used on March 10 in an attempt to legally harvest the lion from the kill (Figure 3, #2), but after identifying tracks of a mature female with two kittens, the hunt was discontinued. Over the next few days, mountain lion sign (i.e., tracks, scrapes, previous kills) was identified in the lower Morgan Creek region, with at least one mature male lion responsible for the kill to the west (Figure 3, #4), as well as several older mule deer kills found in the general vicinity between the two predations. This indicates that resident lions which feed on the higher concentrations of deer in the area may have taken advan­tage of the newly-relocated sheep occupying the south facing slope, but do not appear to be target­ing them specifically as a prey source.

A WGFD Chapter 56 (lethal-take) permit was issued for the male mountain lion, and if cap­tured, plans were made for the female and kittens to be moved from the area, in an attempt to aug­ment survival potential for the remaining ewes in Morgan Creek. Mule deer carcasses with trail cameras were distributed throughout the area, and cage traps were set for several days, with no mountain lion activity documented since initial predation took place. Multiple hunters were also encouraged to legally harvest a lion, but with no snow and rugged terrain, their efforts have been unsuccessful, to date. With most of the snowpack melted, many of the concentrated populations of mule deer in the area have dispersed, possibly causing mountain lions in the area to alter move­ments based on primary prey activities. We will continue to monitor carcasses and mountain lion activities in the area in addition to routine tracking activities of bighorn sheep.

With the exception of recent predations, overall health of remaining bighorn sheep on Semi­noe is promising, with no sickness or injuries observed. The remaining ewes in Morgan Creek con­tinue to be closely monitored, and all sheep over the next month should begin to separate in prepa­ration for lambing, with a minimum of 30 mature ewes observed throughout the range.