Comparison of Wild-Domestic Sheep Interaction Policies in Bighorn Disease Outbreak Locations in the Continental U.S., 1990-2010
type: CreativeWork
description: For over 100 years, disease has significantly limited bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in the western U.S. Interaction with domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has been a primary cause of fatal bighorn disease (typically pneumonia), which has severely reduced or eliminated entire populations. Various wild-domestic sheep interaction policies exist to address the disease problem. In this analysis, six case study locations are compared and analyzed in an effort to evaluate policy efficacy. Locations examined and their bighorn die-off dates include: the Tobin Range, NV (1991); Aldrich Mountain, OR (1991); the Highland/Pioneer Mountains, MT (1994-1995); the Tarryall/Kenosha Mountains, CO (1997-2000); the Hays Canyon Range, NV (2007); and Bonner/West Riverside, MT (2010). Each location is investigated based on the policy analysis criteria of: buffer zones, herder supervision rules, trailing restrictions, consideration of domestic sheep presence prior to bighorn reintroduction, grazing allotment alteration efforts, education/negotiation attempts, fatal removal of bighorns near domestic sheep, coordination/tension between agencies, and funding difficulties. Regarding wild-domestic sheep interaction, all locations lacked clear buffer zones and trailing restrictions. At least five locations lacked funding difficulties. Where applicable, in four locations, domestic sheep presence was considered before reintroducing bighorns. In at least two locations, grazing allotment alteration was attempted, and bighorns were fatally removed. In at least five locations, agencies coordinated bighorn management, and negotiation or education was attempted. Tension between agencies existed in at least one location. From 1990-2010, the wild-domestic sheep disease issue gained prominence in policy documents, politics, and in the minds of agency biologists. This project’s case studies illustrate that bighorn-domestic sheep interaction policies can be successful with diligence, but success is unpredictable …
abstract: For over 100 years, disease has significantly limited bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in the western U.S. Interaction with domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has been a primary cause of fatal bighorn disease (typically pneumonia), which has severely reduced or eliminated entire populations. Various wild-domestic sheep interaction policies exist to address the disease problem. In this analysis, six case study locations are compared and analyzed in an effort to evaluate policy efficacy. Locations examined and their bighorn die-off dates include: the Tobin Range, NV (1991); Aldrich Mountain, OR (1991); the Highland/Pioneer Mountains, MT (1994-1995); the Tarryall/Kenosha Mountains, CO (1997-2000); the Hays Canyon Range, NV (2007); and Bonner/West Riverside, MT (2010). Each location is investigated based on the policy analysis criteria of: buffer zones, herder supervision rules, trailing restrictions, consideration of domestic sheep presence prior to bighorn reintroduction, grazing allotment alteration efforts, education/negotiation attempts, fatal removal of bighorns near domestic sheep, coordination/tension between agencies, and funding difficulties. Regarding wild-domestic sheep interaction, all locations lacked clear buffer zones and trailing restrictions. At least five locations lacked funding difficulties. Where applicable, in four locations, domestic sheep presence was considered before reintroducing bighorns. In at least two locations, grazing allotment alteration was attempted, and bighorns were fatally removed. In at least five locations, agencies coordinated bighorn management, and negotiation or education was attempted. Tension between agencies existed in at least one location. From 1990-2010, the wild-domestic sheep disease issue gained prominence in policy documents, politics, and in the minds of agency biologists. This project’s case studies illustrate that bighorn-domestic sheep interaction policies can be successful with diligence, but success is unpredictable …
author: Howard, Tristan
keywords: bighorn sheep, disease, domestic sheep, Mannheimia haemolytica, Ovis canadensis, policy analysis, wildlife management
date published: 2013-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:10:36Z
provider: University of Montana
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Montana