FWP culls 28 bighorns amid pneumonia outbreak

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Feb 5, 2010 at 6:16 AM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 5, 2010 at 6:16 AM MDT

BUTTE - State biologists have culled 28 bighorn sheep from a herd near Philipsburg in western Montana to determine the extent of a recent pneumonia outbreak.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Ray Vinkey says more than 25% of the sheep in the Upper Rock Creek herd were sick and "there's strong potential for higher rates of infection." He says FWP employees counted 170 bighorns, and 46 showed signs of illness.

Some of the bighorns were first observed coughing last week. That makes the herd the fourth in western Montana this winter to contract the disease. Three were killed Saturday, followed by 28 Wednesday.

Bighorn sheep usually die within a few weeks of contracting pneumonia.

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