Why this mattters
The Crisis Facing Our Bighorn Sheep
For centuries, the rugged mountains and rolling grasslands of the Okanagan Valley have echoed with the presence of California bighorn sheep. These majestic creatures, symbols of strength and resilience, have thrived here—until now.
Today, they are fighting for survival. A silent crisis is unfolding. Disease is ravaging their herds. Their habitat is shrinking. Their numbers are falling. Pneumonia, mites, and Bluetongue are spreading, leaving once-thriving flocks weak, vulnerable, and dying. Lambs don’t stand a chance. Generations of wild sheep are slipping away before our eyes.
But there is hope. With awareness, action, and support, we can turn the tide. Together, we can fund critical treatment programs, restore their habitat, and ensure these magnificent animals roam our mountains for generations to come. This is their fight for survival. Will you stand with them?
Which diseases are hurting our sheep?
These deadly diseases have drastically reduced bighorn sheep populations
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi)
A bacterial pneumonia from domestic sheep and goats, leading to lamb mortality. (Detected since 1999, major outbreak in 2020.)
Psoroptic Mange
A mite-induced skin disease causing hair loss, infections, and hearing issues. (Documented in BC bighorn sheep since 2011.)
Bluetongue Virus
A viral disease spread by midges, causing ulcers, lameness, and sudden death. (Major outbreaks in 2021.)
Collaborative project
In an unprecedented effort to save Okanagan’s bighorn sheep, conservationists, scientists, and Indigenous leaders are coming together to fight the devastating disease threatening these iconic animals.
Launching in March 2025, the Okanagan Bighorn Psoroptes Treatment Program is a collaborative initiative between the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. This groundbreaking project will capture and treat 30 infected bighorn ewes through a carefully monitored 18-month drug treatment trial—the first of its kind in the region.
Our goal
- Test the effectiveness of multiple treatment options for Psoroptes mange, a debilitating disease causing hair loss, infections, and hearing impairment.
- Monitor recovery rates and assess how long treated sheep can remain disease-free.
- Use findings to develop large-scale solutions to restore the health of entire herds.
This program is not just about treatment—it’s about hope, resilience, and a future where Okanagan’s wild sheep thrive once again. But we can’t do it alone.
Fraser River Sheep Capture for M.Ovi disease
Our work in numbers
A deadly disease is wiping out Okanagan’s bighorn sheep. Together, we are launching the Okanagan Bighorn Psoroptes Treatment Program—a groundbreaking initiative to capture, treat, and save 30 infected sheep over an 18-month trial.
This is more than a study. It’s a fight for survival.
SHEEP COUNT IN 1800
1.5M
SHEEP COUNT IN 2024
700
SHEEP IN THIS PROJECT
30
SHEEP IN OUR PEN
18 months
How can I help?
Our bighorn sheep are running out of time—but you can be the difference between survival and extinction.
Donate to fund life-saving treatments and habitat restoration. Volunteer to help hands-on in the field as we fight disease and rebuild their future. Adopt a Sheep and become a direct sponsor in their recovery, giving an individual bighorn a second chance at life. Share Our Work to spread awareness—because the more people who know, the stronger our movement becomes. These sheep can’t ask for help, but you can answer their call. Will you?
Donate now
Every dollar you give directly funds life-saving treatments, disease research, and habitat restoration for Okanagan’s struggling bighorn sheep. Without intervention, their future is uncertain—but with your support, we can stop the spread of disease, heal the sick, and protect these herds for generations to come.
Help us save them before it’s too late!
Volunteer now
Get hands-on in the fight to save Okanagan’s bighorn sheep. As a volunteer, you’ll play a crucial role in their recovery—helping with fieldwork, monitoring, and supporting the treatment program. Your time and dedication can directly impact their survival.
Join us in protecting these incredible animals!
Adopt a Sheep
Give an Okanagan bighorn sheep a second chance at life. By adopting a sheep, you’ll directly support their treatment, care, and rehabilitation. Your sponsorship funds critical medical trials, ensuring these majestic animals can recover and return to the wild, stronger than ever.
This is more than a donation—it’s a lifeline.
Share our work
Awareness is the first step to saving Okanagan’s bighorn sheep. The more people who know about this crisis, the greater our impact. Share our mission on social media, tell your friends, and help us build a community of protectors. Every share, post, and conversation brings us closer to saving these magnificent animals.
They can’t speak for themselves—but you can!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE DISEASES
Bighorn Sheeps Deadly Diseases Explained
Much work is needed to ensure healthy and robust wild sheep populations can thrive on our mountains and grasslands again.
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi)
A bacterial pathogen primarily transmitted from domestic sheep and goats. Causes pneumonia outbreaks with high mortality and long-term declines in lamb survival. It was first detected in the Okanagan in 1999, with a significant outbreak in 2020. It affects the wild sheep populations on the east side of the valley, from Okanagan Mountain Park to the US border.
Psoroptic Mange
A skin disease caused by mites leads to hair loss, infections, and hearing impairment. First documented in BC bighorn sheep in 2011. It is believed to have originated from captive rabbits in the Okanagan Game Farm. Currently infecting all bighorn sheep living on the west side of the Okanagan Valley near Penticton and Kaledan, as well as those living in the Similkameen Valley and the Ashnola near Keremeos.
Bluetongue
A naturally occurring viral disease transmitted by biting midges. Causes ulcers, lameness, and reproductive issues, leading to sudden death. Documented outbreaks in 2021 led to significant population declines in Grand Forks and along the eastern side of the Okanagan Valley from Penticton to the US border.
