Big horn sheep released to boost population

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999 | 11:50 a.m.

Federal wildlife officials used net guns to capture the bighorns in the Monte Cristo Range west of Tonopah the day before they were released Jan. 16 at Currant Mountain.

Six of the big horns were fitted with radio telemetry collars provided by the Foundation of North American Wild Sheep.

"The bighorns will augment an existing herd which has declined to very low numbers in recent years," said Jim Whelan, a Forest Service wildlife biologist.

"The collars have a mortality feature which changes the signal if the sheep stop moving for an extended time," he said.

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