“It correctly constructs in the public eye the clash of values we are experiencing” Rocky Barker interviews Jon Marvel (my boss) of Western Watersheds Project about the recent bill SB 1175 which requires the IDFG to kill bighorn sheep that enter domestic sheep grazing allotments. “The legislature is creating a trap for ranchers and the…
Yesterday I posted a review (with a little help from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office) about Idaho Senate Bill 1124, an anti-wildlife bill sponsored by rancher Monty Pearce that seeks to punish bighorn-sheep conservation efforts. Today, the Idaho state Senate Resources & Environment Committee considered another anti-bighorn sheep attempt. RS18882 was draft legislation, introduced to…
A Review of Idaho Senate Bill 1124 Earlier I wrote about a member of the Idaho legislator and livestock rancher, Monty Pearce, who has recently taken aim at bighorn sheep conservation and restoration efforts in response to a sheepman’s call for special treatment from the Idaho legislature. This after the Payette National Forest’s proposal to drastically reduce his…
Weiser sheep rancher tells Idaho lawmakers Forest Service threatens his livelihood Brian Murphy – Idaho Statesman Sheepherder Ron Shirts has appealed to the Idaho Senate to intervene and give him special consideration above the interests of the public, wildlife, and the Nez Perce Tribe. Shirts complains that his livelihood is threatened because the Payette National…
There is a public meeting meeting Monday, Oct. 6 in Boise on the proposal. A supplemental draft environmental statement just released by the Payette National Forest on bighorn sheep viability proposes a 61% reduction in domestic sheep allotment acreage to separate bighorn and domestic sheep, thus clearly protecting the bighorn from disease transmission of their…
Grazing domestic sheep in bighorn habitat exposes bighorn to deadly disease and massive die-offs. Western Watersheds Project successfully brought this point to the Payette National Forest via federal court winning a temporary halt to grazing domestic sheep in the critical bighorn habitat of Hells Canyon and the Salmon River. Because of these decisions, the Payette National Forest…
Wyoming bighorns in decline. Casper Star Tribune. By Chris Merrill The primary cause is domestic sheep. If you want bighorns, you can’t have sheep in the area or even travelling through it.
The first bighorn sheep ram was killed last Tuesday near Riggins, Idaho under the new Idaho policy to keep bighorn and domestic sheep and goats apart. Fish and Game kills bighorn to prevent disease Rocky Barker, Idaho Statesman.
Ken Cole is a 5th generation Idahoan, an avid fly fisherman, wildlife enthusiast, and photographer. He is the interim Idaho Director for Western Watersheds Project.
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