Bighorn sheep, an icon of the American West, battle to survive as contact with infectious diseases carried by domestic sheep threaten these wild herds. The respiratory pathogen mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (m.ovi), while benign in their domestic sheep hosts, can present deadly complications for bighorn sheep and often lead to widespread pneumonia outbreaks and significant die-offs. Domestic sheep grazing on public land was an integral part of settling the western United States. However, as conservation efforts ramp to rebound bighorn populations, the wool industry, scientific community and wildlife advocates are at a crossroads. Wild and Wool documents a year-long look at a dedicated research team racing to understand the complexities and challenges of m.ovi, before the next outbreak devastates the charismatic species.
CHARGED