Two dead bighorns could be a big threat to East Fork Bitterroot Herd- The article says they have no knowledge that these bighorn encountered domestic sheep, but there are “isolated herds in the area.” Dying bighorn sheep. Herd to be culled. By Perry Backus. Ravalli Republic This is a large and successful bighorn herd.
Bam Bam gets the boot: G&F relocates popular bighorn sheep over concern for his, public’s safety . Trib.com Here’s a story that I missed. Bam Bam was the last sheep in the group that was transplanted to this area. The rest of his heard was lost due to disease. He became a YouTube star this…
Wild Sheep Foundation speaks out. The Wild Sheep Foundation, for many years, has been raffling off a sheep hunting tag which often times generates more than $100,000 that is partially used to fund research conducted at the Caine Veterinary Teaching Center. According to an article in the Lewiston Morning Tribune (subscription only) they are questioning…
Samples taken from killed bighorn sheep will be tested at center embroiled in controversy. From an Idaho Fish and Game press release dated June 15 comes information that samples from the bighorn sheep killed last week will be tested at the Caine Veterinary Teaching and Research Center in Caldwell, Idaho. The Center’s director, Dr. Marie…
Cites political interference from the Idaho Legislature. The Idaho Conservation League has become the second group to resign from the BHS/DS Advisory Group. The first was the Nez Perce Tribe who cited the same reasons for resigning. Currently the Group is suspended while the Idaho Fish and Game and the sheep permitees develop “best management…
Collaborative effort to save public lands domestic sheep grazing suspended in favor of a more closed process mandated by the Legislature and the Governor. The Governor, Legislators, and sheepmen apparently didn’t like the direction the Bighorn Sheep/Domestic Sheep Advisory Group was headed so the whole effort was scuttled…… for now. Many of the groups participating…
S1232 was signed into law yesterday by Governor Otter. The law mandates the Idaho Fish and Game Department to “cooperatively develop best management practices with the permittee(s) on the allotment(s)”. To many this is a non-starter and does not address the fundamental problems with grazing domestic sheep in proximity to bighorn sheep. S1232a – F&G,…
Just introduced today. A new bill was introduced this morning which appears to replace SB 1175. The bill is virtually identical to SB 1175 except for the following changes: S1232 F&G, bighorn sheep relocation (E) The Idaho department of fish and game: (1) shall develop a state management plan to maintain a viable, self-sustaining population…
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan’s Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of “Hiking Idaho.” He also wrote “Beyond the Tetons” and “Backpacking Wyoming’s Teton and Washakie Wilderness.” He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.