ASI Bighorn Taskforce Meets

The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) Bighorn Sheep Taskforce met by conference call this week to review plans for the June 13-14 meeting in Denver, Colo., for state and federal officials, the Wild Sheep Foundation and sheep producers associations.

The taskforce of resource management and animal health committee leaders and state association leaders involved with wild sheep conflicts discussed the final Payette National Forest decision, legal options and the U.S. Forest Service planning rule, which is open for comment. ASI and the Public Lands Council are developing comments on the planning rule and will share with affiliates.

Additionally, the taskforce discussed advances in bighorn sheep research including the wild sheep vaccine development work announced this week. Two critical points have recently been relayed by recent research, including findings that any disease transmission is not instantaneous and that bighorn sheep can be protected, which had been a question.