I haven’t been to these low, but rugged, little known mountains. The bighorn are coming from Oregon rather than the more alpine stock in the Wind River Range of Wyoming.
More sheep, more hunting? By Jeff Gearino. Casper Star-Tribune.
FWP biologists, volunteers cull sick bighorns in East Fork of Bitterroot. By Perry Backus. Ravalli Republic.
Damn those domestic sheep!
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This story earlier on this blog. Bighorn sheep near Darby, MT dying of pneumonia.
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.
Antlers and some horns (such as bighorn) are very valuable. There a quite a few “horn hunters” — people who gather them after they have fallen. As a result, there is competition and an incentive to get into the wintering grounds early, often when the animals are still wintering. So the Commission has a season. The horn hunters must wait until April 1 in areas west of the Continental Divide in Wyoming.
State sets limits on hunting antlers. By Cory Hatch, Jackson Hole Daily.
After her suspension and all the evidence against her claims from the very laboratory she supervised, this is amazing.
New, longer version of the story. Suspended UI prof repeats sheep claims in journal. By John Miller. Associated Press Writer.
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The blog has posted many articles about Bulgin her discredited claims that domestic sheep do not pass on diseases to bighorn sheep.
Most of our news on this issue has been in Idaho where the Payette National Forest is about to come out with an environmental impact statement on how to protect the bighorn. This will have national effects such as described in this story about the two animals in Washington state.
Bighorns, domestic sheep don’t mix. By Scott Sandsberry. Yakima Herald-Republic in the Casper Star Tribune.
The Partridge Creek allotment in the Salmon River Canyon near Riggins is closed to domestic sheep grazing after Western Watersheds Project, The Wilderness Society, and Hells Canyon Preservation Council filed suit in Federal Court.
This is a huge victory for bighorn sheep which have declined in number to 3500 statewide, half of 1990’s population.
BLM won’t fight grazing ban on Idaho allotment
Associated Press
Bighorn Sheep © Ken Cole
The BLM Partridge Creek Allotment has been closed to sheep grazing to protect bighorn sheep from domestic sheep disease. This is a big victory for bighorn sheep in the Salmon River Canyon. These sheep are native sheep and have seen drastic declines over the years due to domestic sheep diseases.
This decision follows victories for bighorn sheep on US Forest Service allotments in the area.
Federal judge shutters Idaho grazing allotment
Associated Press UPDATED STORY
From Western Watersheds Project:
~ Jon Marvel Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve been traveling for the last week but while I was in Nevada I was contacted by John Miller about this story.
On September 29th the meetings of the Bighorn Sheep/Domestic Sheep Advisory Board restarted after a several month hiatus. They will continue to meet into the future.
UI questions prof’s attendance at bighorn meeting
John Miller – Associated Press
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In past about Bulgin. Story June 17,2009. Univ. of Idaho puts Marie Bulgin on Leave during course of bighorn investigation
Disputed Solar Energy Project in California Desert Is Dropped. By Elisabeth Rosenthal. New York Times.
This had been a great Mohave Desert controversy, prompting Senator Feinstein to propose the area as a national monument instead. BrightSource says they are now looking for new site somewhere.
