Another article about the menace of domestic sheep to our precious bighorn populations-
On the Range. Wild Bighorns Threatened by Domestic Sheep. By George Wuerthner. New West.
“Should domestic sheep be permitted to graze on public lands when their presence threatens the survival of wild bighorn sheep? That’s a question that is increasingly getting serious discussion around the West.”
Ralph Maughan
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.
Interesting article basically restating what has already been said. But I like the comments on the bottom. Bearbait has a point that I agree with. The impetus is to increase the number of wild sheep, goats, bison, bears, etc. just so there will be more tags for hunters to buy thus funding F&G. The concept is not to increase the numbers of such critters because it is the RIGHT thing to do, instead we have to justify it for increased killing..ooops…harvest.
And, of course, this was also a winning comment:
“”These sheep and cattle remind me of the illegal aliens. Infiltrating into pristine lands, and made to be confined, thus, spreading disease and destroying the land not helping it at all. Illegal Aliens move in take jobs have babies, spread disease, and collect U.S dollars, without having to pay their fare share.”” Fair share, indeed.
I like the fact that so many writers have suddenly discovered bighorn sheep and the problems they have with domestic sheep. Let’s get the domestic sheep off of our public lands and argue about bighorns getting hunted or not after we get the disease issue solved. I agree with the comment about public wildlife on public lands.