Op-Ed in Idaho Statesman on Dr. Bulgin

 First of all, this is so touchy, I want to make a declaration. I’m neutral. I love agriculture, livestock producers…I also appreciate environmental concerns very much. I’ve done lots of stories showing that agricultural producers were wonderful stewards of the environment and that environmentalists were also very willing to work together with producers in an attempt to reach reasonable compromises that would be best for everyone. (Deep Breath).

 Dr. Marie Bulgin, Coordinator of the Caine Veterinarian Teaching Center at the University of Idaho, said this to me not very long ago… “so far in the research we’ve done here, and we’ve done quite a bit of it, we haven’t been able to connect the pasteurella in domestic sheep with that that causes the die- offs in bighorn sheep.”

Apparently her view has been heard by a lot of folks but listen to what the Idaho Statesman said about Dr. Bulgin in an Op-Ed. “Marie Bulgin doesn't hide her opinions. Unfortunately for Bulgin, science isn't supposed to pick sides. Science is supposed to gather evidence and let the facts serve as the guide. Somehow, for 15 years, Bulgin seemed unaware of research within her own shop, which suggested that wild bighorn sheep can contract disease from domestic animals. While this evidence remained on file, Bulgin continued to discount the disease-transmission theory. This is an outrage of an oversight.

And counting sheep is supposed to make you relax and fall asleep!