Greenhorn Bighorns Shot

[Nemont]

I am going to post this now because god knows when I will be able to get back to this page. Is everyone having trouble getting into to forum. All I get is blank pages half the time.

This story is a followup to another previous post.

May 11, 2004

Last modified December 31, 1969 - 5:00 pm


Bighorns shot after they strayed

ALDER - Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens have shot six of seven bighorn sheep that wandered from their new home in the Greenhorn Mountains.

The sheep were destroyed as part of an agreement established in the environmental assessment the agency put together before reintroducing bighorns into the Greenhorn Mountains a couple of years ago.

"We are following what we said we would do," said Kurt Alt, FWP's Region 3 wildlife manager. "If we don't do what we said we would do, it's going to make it more difficult the next time we try to establish bighorns somewhere else in the state."


The department been criticized by members of the Gallatin Wildlife Association for its decision to kill the bighorns. That group says it's unfair that bighorn sheep are denied access to large tracts of public land because of a few domestic sheep ranchers who use those areas for their herds' summer grazing.

State wildlife officials want to keep the wild and domestic sheep apart to ensure that the bighorns don't contract a disease and bring it back to the rest of the herd. Ranchers worry about bighorn rams breeding their domestic ewes.

Alt said the environmental assessment that drew the guidelines the agency is using for the reintroduction was completed with public comment.

The agency still has strong support for the reintroduction from sportsmen's groups, he said.

The bighorn sheep are part of a new population the state is attempting to build in the Greenhorn Mountains near Alder. Over the last two years, about 80 sheep have been moved into the area.

For the most part, they've stayed put.

"There have been a few forays," said Alt. "They tend to go back though."

The sheep that were destroyed over the last two weekends didn't return to the Greenhorn Mountains.

If the bighorns wander into areas where they'd have to share the range with domestic sheep, state biologists are required to either attempt to capture the animals or destroy them. Biologists had already attempted to capture the sheep.


Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

Nemont

 

[Ithaca 37]

Welfare ranchers!

[ 05-11-2004, 21:54: Message edited by: Ithaca 37 ]

 

[BuzzH]

Ahhhh yes, the art of compromising with a single sheep rancher.

This is just plain ridiculous when bighorn sheep are shot for "straying" onto public lands (Rob/Ledford Creek Wildlife Management Area.)

Once again public lands and public wildlife take a backseat to a crybaby welfare rancher.

What a joke.

 

[FAIRCHASEBEN]

That story chaps my ass !
Especially the part about the rancher worried that Bighorn Rams might breed with his domestics .
We actually had a rancher here in Nevada claim that Bighorns spread disease to his domestic sheep .
Doesn't the word 'Reintroduction' mean the wild sheep belong on the mountain in the first place ? And shouldn't 'domestic' mean kept in captivity , on private land ?

 

[Bambistew]

It pisses me off as well, but the rancher is there to stay for a while, and wouldn't it be best to kill the wild sheep that could get infected by the domestic sheep, so as they dont' spread the deseases to the rest of the intoduced heard and eventually wipe them out?

 

[Ithaca 37]

Where's Paul (BHR) when we need him? Didn't he tell us this couldn't happen?

FairBen, "We actually had a rancher here in Nevada claim that Bighorns spread disease to his domestic sheep."

Isn't that incredible? Those welfare ranchers will say anything to try to get more government money. He was probably figuring he'd get the Nevada Dept. of Wildlife to pay for his sick sheep!

 

[BuzzH]

Bambistew,

The best thing to do is for FNAWS, MTFWP, etc. is to either buy the guy out before transplanting sheep or dont plant them there until he's gone.

Theres other areas in Montana and other states that could support wild sheep.

Its a waste of time, sheep, money, and effort at this time for successful transplanting efforts in the greenhorn mtns.

The wild sheep are getting shot, the welfare rancher is getting his way, and the hunters in MT are getting a fine lesson in pissing up a rope.

 

[Ithaca 37]

BHR, I'm looking forward to hearing your opinion on this issue.