JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — A pathogen that’s linked to fatal pneumonia has been detected in the nonnative mountain goats that are expanding into the territory of the Teton bighorn sheep herd in northwest Wyoming.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists tranquilized four mountain goats from the Palisades herd in April and found a bacteria strain in one of the goats.
Game and Fish wildlife biologist Gary Fralick tells the Jackson Hole News & Guide (http://bit.ly/1azmvhJ) says efforts to monitor the goats will continue in hopes of learning how prevalent the bacteria is in the herd.
Biologists are worried about the bighorn sheep.
The bacteria is thought to be implicated in the deaths of 40 percent of the collared bighorn sheep in a separate Jackson sheep herd over the past year.
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Information from: Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide, http://www.jhnewsandguide.com
