A helicopter interrupted the still of the Badlands last week, a reminder of the nearly half-century long effort to manage a sensitive bighorn sheep population that was introduced into western North Dakota in 1956. About a decade ago, the entire bighorn population south of I-94 numbered anywhere from 150 to 175 animals. Before last week's relocation, maybe 30 sheep made up the population.
Scientists lay blame on the bighorn demise to some sort of disease.
Originally, department officials had planned on using a stationary drop net to capture sheep that had been lured in close by apple pulp. It was a good move. The entire operation, which included hauling the bighorns 100 miles by animal trailer after their capture, took only four hours. By the time they touched down at base camp and took the doors off the ship, they were back in 15 to 20 minutes with three sheep. Time is everything.