BC First Nations launched drug trials to compete demanding in reducing the population of Byorn Sheep

Residents of South Oknagan in BC have seen an increase in a parasitic skin disease, soroptic demand between the region’s born sheep.

The decline in their population is inspiring a new study.

Research For the study, under the leadership of Okegon Nation Alliance (ONA), a first nation tribal council began in February and will continue until July 2026.

The coalition says Big Horn Sheep are woven Syilx in the history of peopleTheir presence reflects the health of the land and the balance between people and nature. Syilx is indigenous for Okanagan, and their territory reaches the United States.

British Columbia is Wild Sheep Society Fund fund researchWhich includes many provincial and regional biologists. It says that BC is home to some of the largest and most diverse population of wild sheep in North America.

McKenzie Clarke, lead of the Ona Wildlife Program, says that all pregnancy from Pentrickton to the United States has skin disease.

“There is a small mite that eats away on that top surface layer. It causes crying wounds, crusts and really itchy skin, so the sheep cannot stop itching … they have a lot of hair scratch,” she said. CBC day.

She says that hair loss and hearing loss, as mites are formed inside the ears of wounds, can have fatal consequences.

Some sheep die due to risk during winter when they lose their hair, and hear loss makes the sheep unsafe on the road for predators and vehicles.

Clarke says that researchers believe that soroptic mange originated from a domestic rabbit farm in BC

During the previous test, the sheep had a genetic testing, and researchers say they are certain that the disease came from a domestic rabbit farm that was close to the sheep.

She says that no wild rabbits have a disease in the area and the domestic rabbit field is no longer present.

“It can switch between the hosts, so that’s why we want to kick this drug trial, if we can, to try to get a treatment for it, before it potentially switchs the host switch again,” he said.

Mating drug test

The bigorn sheep were caught, and two separate drugs are being tested, to see that the demands are more effective in reducing and which lasts longer.

Fluralaner and Moxidectin are drugs, which are obtained from Australia. The Penticuton Indian band, a partner in the project, holding the sheep.

Clarke says that a previous demand mitigation test within 2016 within the Penticatan Indian band was an inspiration for this study. She says that the flurner was used and worked in the last demand trial, and that Moxedctin is used on domestic sheep in the UK.

She says that if drugs work, all the pregnancy sheep will be found in South Oknagan.

Born sheep fall

The Psoroptic Mange is limited to the South Okanagan region of the west of Pentachton and was first found there in 2011.

Clarke says that since then, 60 per cent of sheep population has declined. They hope that the study helps to rejuvenate those numbers. Lia Mcinon shares those feelings.

McCinone is a Stewardship biologist, an organization with the Oknagan Similkemen Stewardship Society, focusing on the restoration of wildlife and lasts in Okegan for more than 30 years.

He told CBC News that the study is “amazing, there are lots of dangers for Bihorn sheep.”

Another threat to the sheep is pneumonia, which Clarke says that South Oknagan also has Byorn sheep.

She says that McCinone remembers 90 percent of the population of “dying” during the 90s due to a spike in pneumonia – the study also expects to address that issue, she says.

“A great thing about working is that it is being done by the Pentrickton Indian band in combination with the Okegon Nation Alliance, and the province.

“This is really good because of being that indigenous component because big horns are important, of course, our local first nation’s population.”