Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep on Wild Horse Island
Bighorn Sheep and more…
Flathead Lake’s Wild Horse Island is rich in wildlife that includes more than just the infamous wild horses. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, mule deer and other animals live on the island year round. Hiking Wild Horse is a favorite outing for local residents and visitors that want to see the animals in their natural habitat and experience the island the way the Indians did hundreds of years ago.
Controling the herd
The present-day herd are descendants of a group that was planted on the island in 1947. The initial 10 sheep swelled to 228 as of January 2012. Periodically, as the herd increases, wildlife officials will transport sheep via helicopter to other areas in Montana to maintain a balanced habitat and adequate population control on the island. Transporting the sheep is a fascinating process, and not without risks to both the sheep and the humans capturing them. This article explains more…