IDWSF Summer Journal 2018

are critically important to the land use plans and it is our
hope they will be integrated into those processes.
The balance of our efforts goes toward reviewing and
commenting on federal legislation introduced to limit the
land management agencies abilities to make decisions that
will benefit bighorn or boilerplate grazing regulations that
will adversely impact bighorn. To date, the lobbyist in
Washington D.C. and the WSF Conservation committee,
with help from chapters like IDWSF, have been successful
in diverting that type of legislation. Those efforts will
continue and we will have to safeguard against all future
attempts. Past and future fly- in efforts to Washington D.C.
to meet, one-on-one with federal agency and congressional
staff are very fruitful in establishing relationships and
subsequent help on matters.
IDWSF penned a draft letter to the American Sheep
Industry (ASI), proposing cooperative and collaborative
research projects regarding respiratory diseases in both
domestic and wild sheep. This approach is needed to dispel
claims of bias due to independent research efforts. This
letter will be sent under the signature of Gray Thornton,
and co-signed by chapters and affiliates. This approach
shows good faith on behalf of wild sheep advocates.

51

idaho wild sheep
foundation activ itie s

2017

by IDWSF Conservation Committee

The Idaho WSF is committed to improving the wild sheep populations of Idaho in their current and former ranges and
maintaining sustainable populations for generations to come. To achieve that goal a number of issues, such as disease
transmission from domestic stock, habitat loss, and increased demands on their habitat, need to be addressed. Idaho WSF has
been actively involved this past year, often with other state WSF chapters or affiliate (C&A) organizations with the similar goals.
These efforts have included political lobbying, Land Management agency (US Forest Service, BLM) coordination, boots on the
ground projects, and monetary support. Your support makes these efforts possible!

• Washington D.C. meetings with federal delegates. A spring and a fall meeting were held to meet with our delegation,
other key legislators, and heads of land management agencies. Disease issues, separation issues, risk of contact among
species and land use planning were all discussed. These were in conjunction with other state WSF Chapters & Affiliates

• US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management land management plan input. Idaho WSF members met and
coordinated with USFS, BLM and Tri-State (ID, OR, WA) WSF chapters to comment on land management plans and
bighorn issues.

• Bighorn sheep disease research funding. Continued funding of Dr. Tom Besser, Washington State University (WSU)
Veterinary school and research center. Dr. Besser is working on bighorn pathogens and pathways forward to resolve the
same.

• Helicopter flight time & telemetry collar funding. Supported Idaho Fish and Game with helicopter time for capture,
research work, and telemetry collars.

• Lamb survival surveys. Idaho WSF members assisted with lamb surveys and vegetation analysis tied to a graduate
research project. Project with University of Idaho and IDFG.

• Idaho Bighorn Lottery drawing. Manage the process for Idaho Fish and Game which includes promotion, advertisement,
mailings, cataloging purchased raffle tickets, and conducting the drawing.

• Bighorn capture/collar/disease test work. Idaho WSF members assisted with bighorn capture work in numerous
locations for health assessment work and affix satellite telemetry collars for management purposes.

• Hells Canyon bighorn recovery project. Meet twice a year with Idaho, Oregon, & Washington WSF and Government
agencies to continue coordinated efforts in bighorn management.

• Domestic sheep disease sampling. Idaho WSF members assisted Idaho F&G with domestic sheep sampling for research
work at WSU. These are research trials to work toward disease free domestic sheep.

• US Sheep Experiment Station. With national WSF and others to repurpose the Sheep Station in Dubois, ID to reduce
risks to bighorn sheep and redirect research to diseases common in both species.

• National Wild Sheep Foundation Show in Reno, NV. Provide materials on our state bighorn lottery, Idaho WSF
program and banquet. Maintain a similar booth at the Boise Sportsman’s Expo.

52 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SUMMER 2018

IDAHO WILD SHEEP FOUNDATIONPRESENTS

2018

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