The Payette National Forest will be releasing its Record of Decision on July 30th
Hells Canyon Bighorn Sheep © Ken Cole
Bighorn sheep, which have struggled with disease outbreaks caused by contact with domestic sheep, in Hells Canyon and the Salmon River Canyon will be affected by the decision. There are estimated to be approximately 1,000 California Bighorn Sheep and 1,800 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in Idaho and only 700 of those are native Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep which live in central Idaho. This is approximately half of the population that existed in the late 90’s and trends indicate further declines.
Of greatest concern to the bighorn populations in Idaho is contact with domestic sheep and the fatal diseases which they carry. The limiting factor in the populations continues to be pneumonia and not weather, habitat, or predation. If the adult bighorn sheep are not dying outright from disease through contact with domestic sheep then their lambs are dying within weeks of being born thus, the bighorn are not replacing themselves at a rate fast enough to keep up with other mortality factors and are continuing to decline in population. For years after an outbreak lamb survival is the limiting factor.
From an email sent today by Forest Supervisor, Suzanne Rainville:
“The Record of Decision for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Forest Plan Amendment Identifying Suitable Rangeland for Domestic Sheep and Goat Grazing to Maintain Habitat for Viable Bighorn Sheep Populations will be available to the public July 30 when it will be posted in the Federal Register. We plan to have documents available on the Forest website by July 27. I will be hosting a briefing of my decision on July 28 at the Boise National Forest Supervisor’s office at 10:00 AM in the Sunset and Bear Valley Conference Rooms. The address is 1249 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 200 (second floor above Social Security).”
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Ken Cole
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. We do not accept unsolicited “guest” authors or advertising.
My name is Mike Bullard. I am running for Idaho Legislative seat A, district 4., Coeur d’Alene. I am a retired minister, making my first foray into the political realm. I love the outdoors, mostly hiking and fishing, have some family history in fish and wildlife, and have planted a few trees and kept a couple of ponds and aquariums. So I am interested in scientific issues about our outdoors, though I am very new with the political sides of things.
In particular, I was attracted to your work because of the 2009 Idaho Senate Bill S1232 and issues involving bighorn sheep v. domestic sheep and associated disease. Most of what I know about sheep has to do with stories from the Bible, so I am your student. Frankly, I’m pretty sure that between the hunters,hunting industry, and the environmentalists in our area, sympathies here would be stronger for BHS than for domestic sheep interests. So I am wanting to be taught about the issue. With all the work of campaigning, I don’t have time to do a lot of research, but I do like to look at numbers and facts, so I would very much appreciate hearing from you.