Lincoln Journal Star
CHADRON — Bighorn sheep in the Panhandle are sporting some new accessories thanks to the work of a helicopter crew, wildlife professionals and volunteers.
A team of about 50 people from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and other agencies worked to capture and process 48 sheep Monday and Tuesday — 22 in the Wildcat Hills near McGrew and 26 at locations in the Pine Ridge near Chadron and Crawford.
Wildlife professionals have increased monitoring efforts in recent years to combat disease issues with Nebraska’s bighorn sheep, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said in a news release. In addition to the sheep captured, processed and released, seven chronically ill ewes from the Pine Ridge were taken to South Dakota State University in Brookings to be examined.
The sheep that were released received new tracking collars and ear tags, in addition to undergoing a series of tissue samples and vaccinations. The ewes received vaginal implant transmitters, which have been used in recent years to study lamb mortality.
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The processing teams include personnel from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, the Lincoln Children's Zoo and private veterinarians, along with Chadron State College and South Dakota State University.
The helicopter crew will remain in the state this week to capture mule deer in the Frenchman deer management unit in southwestern Nebraska and the Pine Ridge unit for a study led by the University of Nebraska.
Nebraska wildlife
Nebraska wildlife takes center stage in amazing photographs
Bighorn sheep
A pair of rams at Fort Robinson State Park in Sioux County during breeding season. Males seeking dominance.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Elk
Bull elk on Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge.
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Great blue heron
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) perched on a dead log on the bank of the Missouri River in Dixon/Cedar county.
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Tom turkeys
Tom turkeys in Sarpy County, near Louisville.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Canada geese
Canada geese loaf in an icy pond at Pioneers Park.
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
White-tailed buck
Why does this deer have antlers? A free webinar series from the state Game and Parks Commission will answer that question Sept. 3.
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Bald Eagle
A bald eagle at the spillway on Lake Ogallala below Kingsley Dam.
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Bison
A bouquet of sunflowers adorns the horn of a bison that has just finished wallowing at the Niobrara Valley Preserve in Cherry County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Pronghorn
Buck pronghorn gather in a pasture on the Oglala National Grassland west of Toadstool Park in Sioux County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Sharp-tailed grouse
Sharp-tailed grouse stand out against the white backdrop of a late spring snowfall at Fort Robinson State Park in Dawes County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Northern river otter
Northern River Otter (Lutra canadensis) in a small pond near Brea, Box Butte County.
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Sandhill cranes
Sandhill cranes rest on the Platte River at Martin's Reach Wildlife Management Area in Hall County in 2017.
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Mule deer
Mule deer stand in ponderosa pines near the Snake River in Cherry County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Blue-winged teal
A drake blue-winged teal swims in the shallows of Cottonwood Lake State Recreation Area near Merriman.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
American avocet
The American avocet can be found on lakes in western Nebraska during spring and early summer.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Bull elk
Bull elk in North Platte River valley forest near Lewellen, Garden County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Snapping turtle
Snapping turtle.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Bluegill
A male bluegill stands guard on its nest in a southern Nebraska pond.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Bighorn sheep
Bighorn sheep near Chadron State Park, Nebraska National Forest.
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Jackrabbit
A jackrabbit (Lepus) sits in the snow in Sioux County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
White-tailed deer
White-tailed deer browse on the shoreline at sunrise in Area 1 at Wagon Train State Recreation Area.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Bison
Bison are driven toward the sorting facility at Fort Robinson State Park.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
American bullfrog
An American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), an amphibian, on a private pond in Sarpy County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Goslings
Goslings at Louisville State Recreation Area.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Northern prairie lizard
Northern prairie lizard, Sceloporus undulatus, in a Sandhills blowout 2 miles west of Wood Lake in Cherry County.
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Greater prairie chicken
A male greater prairie chicken puts on a courtship display northeast of Haigler in Dundy County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Ring-neck pheasant rooster
A pen-raised ring-necked pheasant rooster in natural habitat in a controlled shooting area in Chase County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Trumpeter swans
Two trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator) loaf on the icy waters of a marsh east of Whitman in Grant County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Blanding's turtle
A Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) on the Calamus River.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Elk
Elk roam the grasslands of Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Cherry County.Â
NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
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