26 bighorn sheep put down because of illness

SALT LAKE CITY — Wildlife officials in eastern Utah have killed 26 bighorn sheep stricken with bacterial pneumonia to keep the disease from spreading to other animals.

The sheep are part of a small herd east of Dutch John, near Flaming Gorge.

The Goslin Mountain herd — estimated at about 40 last year — was formed after sheep from Montana were brought in 2004 and 2007.

Utah Division of Wildlife officials say a wildlife biologist noticed several of the sheep were coughing last month. Further investigation showed many were sick with pneumonia. The sheep were killed out of concern they might spread the disease to larger herds in the area.

Pneumonia has also affected sheep herds in Montana, Nevada and Washington this year.