Category: SOKS Bighorn Sheep
Backstory for the SOKS Bighorn Psoroptes Project
In February 2011 and 2012, two emaciated bighorn sheep rams with generalized skin disease were reported to, and euthanized by, government staff near Olalla in BC’s Similkameen valley. Lab diagnostics confirmed psoroptic mange – also known as sheep mange or sheep scab – caused by the ectoparasitic mite Psoroptes ovis.…
You Can Help // Share Your Sheep Sightings
You can help with sheep observations for the SOKS Bighorn Psoroptes Monitoring Project. We’re interested in sheep observations anywhere in the South Okanagan and Similkameen, from Kelowna to Keremeos, Princeton to Osoyoos. Record the date, time, location, group size, number of lambs, and a description of any collars and tags.…
Dog-Eared Sheep: Disease Surveillance for Psoroptic Mange in BC Bighorns
Have you noticed odd-looking ears on bighorn sheep in the South Okanagan, Lower Similkameen, and Ashnola? When sheep have ears that are oddly shaped, stiff, thickened, crusted, or folded like dog ears, they are showing signs of Psoroptes (pronounced sore-op–tease) infestation. Psoroptes ovis is the name for the mite that causes…
Psoroptes Monitoring Kicks Off with Collaring of 27 Bighorns
27 bighorn sheep from the South Okanagan Similkameen populations were radio-collared in February 2015. Captures included 16 females and 11 males, distributed across the lower Similkameen from Hedley to Olalla, and South Okanagan areas between Penticton and Oliver. The purpose is to better understand bighorn movement patterns so that…
HCTF Announces Funding for SOKS Bighorn Sheep
We are pleased to announce that the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation is partnering with us in support of the South Okanagan Similkameen Bighorn Sheep Psoroptes Monitoring Project. Psoroptic mange is a generalized skin disease in wild sheep caused by the ectoparasitic mite Psoroptes ovis. This mite lives on skin, causing…