Pneumonia outbreak strikes bighorn sheep at J.T.N.P.

Officials at Joshua Tree National Park said an outbreak of pneumonia is affecting the bighorn sheep population and it could cause a long term decline that can last longer than a decade.

The first sick and coughing bighorn was reported in early May. In mid-August, a dead lamb was found in the park and the body was sent to a laboratory for necropsy. The lab results confirmed the animal was infected with pneumonia, according to the release.

Park officials said pneumonia typically enters into a population from contact with domestic sheep or goats, and biologists warn the public to avoid releasing domestic sheep or goats into the wild since they can carry the disease without showing any symptoms.

The mortality rate for animals infected is 50 to 90 percent and there is no vaccine or cure, officials said.

Biologists have formed an inter-agency task force to monitor outbreaks, suggest best practices for limiting the range and effects of the disease and provide recommendations for management actions.

Sheep living in the San Jacinto and North Santa Rosa Mountains are also getting sick.

“A lot of golfers have seen sick lambs, they collected one lamb from Silver Rock and it tested positive for agents that are seen in pneumonia, and there was another lamb that was removed and it also has some pathogens that could lead to pneumonia,” said Aimee Byard, associate director and biologist with Bighorn Institute.

If you live in an area and you regularly see bighorn sheep you can help the Bighorn Institute. If you see a sheep coughing, having a runny nose or see lambs with rough looking coats you can call the Bighorn Institute at 760-346-7334 and tell them what you saw.

More information: Joshua Tree National Park