Wild sheep and disease
- Thread starter Oak
- Start date
Thanks for your work, Oak. You and your fellow RMBS volunteers are tireless in your advocacy for wild sheep. Let us know how we can help.
Irrelevant
Well-known member
Strong words... I like it.
If you want to get involved in something right now, you can submit comments on the draft GMUG Forest Plan Revision. Comments are due by November 12. Just click the "Submit a Comment" button.
The most important thing for bighorn sheep in this draft plan is that they be included on the Species of Conservation Concern list, which is designated by the Regional Forester. They are currently not on the list, despite ample evidence that they qualify and a pointed letter from CPW indicating point by point why they qualify and should be included on the list.
SCC listing is important because without it, the Forest only has to manage for persistence on the forest. The management hurdle for SCC species is viability. If bighorns are not an SCC species, the forest could write off all but one herd of bighorns on the forest and still meet persistence. As an SCC species, the Forest must consider all individuals on the forest as a single population.
The 2012 planning rule lists the following categories for species that should be considered for SCC listing:
The Forest is contending that because bighorns don't meet sub-category (3) of category f. that they can't be listed as SCC. However, the list above is clearly an "or" list, not an "and" list.
So write your comments and ask that bighorn sheep be listed as a species of conservation concern because the best available science indicates there is concern about their ability to persist over the long term due to the risk of disease transmission from authorized domestic sheep grazing on the forest. From the Rangeland Assessment prepared for this plan revision, in 2016 there were 27,331 domestic sheep permitted to graze on the forest.
The most important thing for bighorn sheep in this draft plan is that they be included on the Species of Conservation Concern list, which is designated by the Regional Forester. They are currently not on the list, despite ample evidence that they qualify and a pointed letter from CPW indicating point by point why they qualify and should be included on the list.
SCC listing is important because without it, the Forest only has to manage for persistence on the forest. The management hurdle for SCC species is viability. If bighorns are not an SCC species, the forest could write off all but one herd of bighorns on the forest and still meet persistence. As an SCC species, the Forest must consider all individuals on the forest as a single population.
The 2012 planning rule lists the following categories for species that should be considered for SCC listing:
Bighorn sheep meet category c. (CPW lists them as a species of greatest conservation need in their SWAP), category d. (the adjacent Rio Grande National Forest listed bighorns as SCC in their forest plan revision that was just completed last year), and three of the four sub-categories of category f. The CPW comment letter makes a case for bighorns meeting all four sub-categories of category f.
The Forest is contending that because bighorns don't meet sub-category (3) of category f. that they can't be listed as SCC. However, the list above is clearly an "or" list, not an "and" list.
So write your comments and ask that bighorn sheep be listed as a species of conservation concern because the best available science indicates there is concern about their ability to persist over the long term due to the risk of disease transmission from authorized domestic sheep grazing on the forest. From the Rangeland Assessment prepared for this plan revision, in 2016 there were 27,331 domestic sheep permitted to graze on the forest.
Irrelevant
Well-known member
rtraverdavis
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2016
- Messages
- 4,078
Where does domestic wool mostly end up? In any particular brands? It’s just unreal that this one little industry could pose such an existential threat to an entire species.
The largest consumer of domestic wool is the U.S. Military. Companies that source domestic wool for clothing are listed in the Executive Summary of this ASI report and include Duckworth, Ramblers Way, Voormi, Crescent, Kentwool, Wigwam and Nester Hosiery.
Obviously the lamb market is even more important to domestic sheep producers than the wool market. Primary markets for lamb are found in the Northeast, Southeast, West Coast, and larger cities. Restaurants make up a big market share. You can find lots of information on the ASI website.
Paused and will be rolled into the forest plan revision process whenever that begins.Meanwhile in Wyoming.... The USFS, under heavy pressure form the livestock industry and the state department of ag, is looking to undo decades of work and millions of dollars in financial contributions from groups including the WSF an TU to benefit a handful of sleazy woolgrowers who are bent on gaming the system in their favor... again.
Forest Service moves to weaken bighorn protections in Wyo Range - WyoFile
A rule change could open about 124,000 acres of habitat protected by grazing-allotment buyouts to domestic sheep.www.wyofile.com
Bluffgruff
Well-known member
@Oak
I'm trying to craft an intelligent and succinct comment, any points i should try to make?
I'm trying to craft an intelligent and succinct comment, any points i should try to make?
You could literally say what I said in my quote above and finish the sentence with, “as demonstrated in the November 22, 2021 comment letter on the draft plan from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.”
Here is that letter.
Thanks for all you do Oak on this issue and keeping us updated
It is so hard for me to understand how we went from millions of wild sheep to building back the herds that we have now with all the huge effort and cost. It has taken a monumental effort to get where we are now !
To have some chuckle heads at state agency let domestic sheep overlap areas when anyone that can read knows what the outcome will be. Its not if the wild sheep will get sick but when. And how many times have we had entire herds have died off due to same issue the math on loss of Ewes not having lambs and ewe lams not growing and breeding is math is that would make me sick
The few time Ive seen sheep in the wild have been some of the best moments of my western trips
It is so hard for me to understand how we went from millions of wild sheep to building back the herds that we have now with all the huge effort and cost. It has taken a monumental effort to get where we are now !
To have some chuckle heads at state agency let domestic sheep overlap areas when anyone that can read knows what the outcome will be. Its not if the wild sheep will get sick but when. And how many times have we had entire herds have died off due to same issue the math on loss of Ewes not having lambs and ewe lams not growing and breeding is math is that would make me sick
The few time Ive seen sheep in the wild have been some of the best moments of my western trips
Bluffgruff
Well-known member
Comment submitted.
Today, I am thankful that we have Oak to advocate for our critters!
Today, I am thankful that we have Oak to advocate for our critters!
Badlands bighorns experiencing pneumonia die off
“Since August, when the first sheep in the park were found suffering from the disease, approximately 50% of the radio-collared ewes have been found dead – all from mycoplasma ovipneumoiae (sic), a pneumonia-causing bacteria that nearly wiped out the Custer State Park herd and has wreaked havoc on the Rapid City and Deadwood herds.”
“Since August, when the first sheep in the park were found suffering from the disease, approximately 50% of the radio-collared ewes have been found dead – all from mycoplasma ovipneumoiae (sic), a pneumonia-causing bacteria that nearly wiped out the Custer State Park herd and has wreaked havoc on the Rapid City and Deadwood herds.”
Irrelevant
Well-known member
I just don't know how you combat that unless you require all sheep/goats to be 100% vaccinated. Even then I bet you never truly reach 100%.
Irrelevant
Well-known member
No vaccination available.
Capture them all and test them. Expensive, time consuming, and made more difficult in terrain more rugged and remote than Custer State Park.
Test and removal has been happening with Hells Canyon populations for a few years and looks very promising. I think my biggest concern is hobby flocks of sheep and goats that know matter how much education and outreach you do just doesn’t seem to matter to some
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