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Pneumonia has been found in the Cinnabar Mountain bighorn sheep herd near Corwin Springs, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

FWP received a report Monday about sheep coughing at Cinnabar Mountain near Gardiner. Two lambs and lethally removed and brought to the state wildlife lab in Bozeman where evidence of pneumonia was found in lungs of both lambs.

"FWP is currently assessing the extent of the affected sheep in order to determine the appropriate response actions. Those actions might include culling in order to prevent the spread of the disease to healthy animals," Region 3 Supervisor Pat Flowers said.

There are no known vaccines to prevent pneumonia in wild sheep. In extreme cases, pneumonia-related outbreaks can result in herd "die-offs." In the 1990s Montana lost 1,400 bighorn sheep due to pneumonia. In 2010, more than 600 Montana bighorn sheep were lost to pneumonia, according to FWP.

FWP reminds hunters and others who might recreate in the area that it is illegal to possess a bighorn sheep head picked up in the wild. If dead or sick bighorn sheep are discovered, please contact FWP Region 3 Headquarters in Bozeman at 994-4042.