Swakane Sheep Herd

Population Objectives/Guidelines
Bighorns were native to Chelan County are but disappeared in the late 1800’s. Swakane has more tree and shrub cover than other California Bighorn areas of eastern Washington. Cover allows sheep to hide from helicopters making aerial surveys ineffective. For the Swakane, we rely on incidental reports from department personnel and the public as well as ground surveys utilizing volunteers. The population is static and numbers about 30. Our objective is 50.

Habitat Condition and Trend
Most of the area used by this herd was burned in the Dinkleman Fire (1989). As a result of the fire, tree and shrub habitat components have decreased while grass has increased. Habitat shifts have been positive for bighorn and negative for mule deer, the only other wild ungulate that shares the habitat with Swakane Bighorns.

Wildlife Damage
We have not received damage complaints related to these bighorn. However, rams are frequently seen during winter and spring in the vicinity of Ohme Garden. There is a potential for damage if this use continues or increases.

Augmentation/Habitat Enhancement
This population has bot been augmented since it was re-established with nine bighorns from the Colockum in 1969.

Management Conclusions
The Swakane bighorn may be affected by disease from domestic sheep which overlap the bighorn range on national forest. Wenatchee National Forest is currently evaluating their sheep allotment area. WDFW and Wenatchee National Forest are currently developing an MOU concerning bighorn management. These efforts are expected to reduce overlap and conflicts between domestic sheep and bighorn.

The Swakane herd would probably benefit from population augmentation. Although the Swakane population is relatively static, it contains at least 11 adult rams. One permit has been offered each year since 1999. It was opened to the raffle and auction permit for 2002.

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