Legislation addresses Big Horn Sheep management

This is from a regular roundup of some of ICIE’s activities in and around the Idaho Legislature. Staffing limits mean we can’t cover every meeting. If there’s an item of interest to you at an upcoming meeting of one of the environment or agriculture committees, let us know and we’ll try to cover it. Agendas are available at http://www.state.id.us/. Click on “Legislative” and click on “Calendars and agendas.”

On Friday, Senator Jeff Siddoway introduced draft legislation to the Senate Resources and Environment Committee that would stipulate that domestic sheep and livestock operators will be held harmless from adverse impacts of bighorn sheep mixing with domestic sheep by the State. His legislation provides for control of certain bighorn sheep by the Idaho Department of Fish & Game and its director; and removes the reference to the shared veterinarian program between ISDA and IDFG. This is the most recent in a series of legislation addressing further reintroduction of big horn sheep without adversely affecting domestic sheep grazing allotments on federal lands. The committee sent the bill to the 14th Order where it was amended. The amended version is on the Second Reading calendar.

For background on the bighorn sheep issue, see the 1/31/09 posting on bighorn sheep.