8-12 NWR Grizzlies and Sheep

It is very reminiscent of the situations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington as it relates to wolves and livestock. This time a different villain. There has been a great deal of concern by ranchers at the number of grizzly bears heading east from the Rocky Mountain Front and onto the northern plains.

Last week, 13 sheep were killed by grizzly bears in Shelby, Montana. USDA Wildlife Services confirmed a grizzly bear or bears as the cause. An attempt was made to trap the bears without any success. This was the first time there has been a grizzly confirmed in this area.

The owner of the sheep, Montana Wool Growers President, Dave McEwen has implemented several predator control measures to protect his herd of sheep from their primary predator, coyotes, but was not anticipating grizzlies so far out on the plains.  The attacks all occurred on private land and McEwen fears the impact Grizzlies will have on coyote control measures to protect his sheep.

 

With the way federal law currently stands, a person cannot kill a grizzly bear if it's attacking ones livestock. You can only kill a grizzly if it's attacking a human. And, you can only haze a grizzly bear if you see it attacking your livestock, not if the bear are in the area. Until the Endangered Species Act is revised and Grizzly Bears are removed, livestock producers and citizens or rural communities have their hands tied in protecting their property. 

A Washington appeals court has upheld felony unlawful hunting convictions for a Kittitas County landowner who shot several elk that she complained were grazing on her property.