The population of the famous bighorn sheep at Hemenway Park has decreased significantly since disease has impacted their breeding and the health of the adult sheep. Back in 2013, biologists from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) tested the herd and found many had been infection with a deadly pneumonia virus. The herd, which once number in the hundreds, is now down to about two dozen that frequent the park on a regular basis. Additionally, it appears that many of the youngest sheep, with immature immune systems, are not living to maturity. There were only two lambs present when NDOW biologists conducted their testing, when normally there were several more.
You can read more about this story on Fox 5 Vegas HERE. Also, the City of Boulder City has a video of the health screening activities on their YouTube page HERE.
