EWES LAMBS
2.2. Controlling Sheep Losses to Coyotes in Soathestern Idaho*
2.2.2. Hannger'a problems 1. Field Restrictions
Control methods and priorities constantly have to be reevaluated due to
changes in land use, t e r r a i n , vegetation levels, weather. vulnerability of non- t a r g e t species as well as local and S t a t e l a w s . For example, a i r c r a f t are of limited use in rugged t e r r a i n , during bad weather and in areas of heavy foliage. Traps f r e e z e and become inoperable in t h e winter. In some areas controls cannot be w e d in t h e summer due to t h e presence of hikers. A variety of tools are essential to
accomplish t h e task of minimizing sheep losses effectively, efficiently and safely.
2.2.2.2. Manpower
Manpower i s a problem as few men have t h e required skills. Although t h e Dis- t r i c t Field Assistant (DFA) is t h e foundation of t h e program, h e i s underpaid, h a s poor working conditions and lacks job security. Many DFAs are only hired p d time. Ground workers and a e r i a l gunners o p e r a t e under rough conditions. The
Table 6. Percentage utilization of ADC methods.
Q) CV
N d N d m u .
P
c Q)
1 4 3
U 4 4
u U U a s u m
rl Q)
0:
O h ,C 0 Q ) Q ) r n h ~
01 * a 0 0
d + s - L h u r l
a e r i a l gunners often fly with 'low-bid pilots' at l o w altitudes through difficult ter- r a i n and in bad weather.
2.2.2.3. F e d e r d APLicy
Policy changes often inhibit t h e ADC manager's ability to achieve his goals.
These changes a f f e c t funding, management r e s t r i c t i o n s and t h e use of control tools. Funding reductions and inflation result in a d e c r e a s e in manpower, safety and t h e use of available tools. As t h e labor f o r c e i s reduced, t h e labor-intensive tools such as t h e M-44, s n a r e s and ground shooting are less likely to b e used. A s h o r t a g e of funds also limits t h e use of t h e more expensive tools such as t h e hel- icopter. The helicopter cost $93 p e r hour in 1973 but $375 p e r h o u r in 1981. Ulti- mately safety is sacrificed and t h e ADC manager cannot b e as responsive to chang- ing field conditions.
Control agents f e l t that a t r a d ~ f f w a s being made in 1972 when t h e use of toxicants w a s banned. They considered t h a t "a political decision had been made to r e p l a c e a cost-effective toxicant with a n expensive mechanical tool t h a t was con- sidered to b e more environmentally sound." Generally, they viewed t h i s as imprac- tical. "...I080 is o n e of t h e most environmentally sound tools available f o r preda- tor control" (Packham, 1978).
Some District Field Assistants expressed overwhelming approval of the switch to a i r c r a f t . One DFA said t h a t in his many y e a r s of s e r v i c e "control h a s n e v e r been t h i s good." Although h e shot coyotes from helicopters flying o v e r rugged t e r r a i n , h e f e l t t h e method was excellent since i t was "safe, f a s t and you g e t what you're after."
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2.2.2.4. m a r t m e n t a l s u p p o r tSince t h e 1960's the ADC managers have f e l t t h a t they have had little support from t h e i r d i r e c t o r a t e . They believe t h a t a professional ADC program is required, but t h a t n o one wants to t a k e responsibility.
The field staff need s t r o n g support from leadership at all levels. They need and d e s e m e clear direction from t h e e n t i r e chain of command t h a t a c c e p t s t h e responsibility and quits dodging i t (Packham, 1978).
2.2.3. Conclumion
The ADC managers feel that the major factors restricting their ability to minimize sheep losses are limited funds and aontrol methods. In 1980, they were faced with a situation wherein the constant dollar value of funding and t h e number of field agents employed decreased while government restrictions and costs in- creased. The ADC manager f e a r s that as costs continue to rise and relative fund- ing decreases h e won't b e able to hold t h e sheep losses with t h e tools he h a s avail- able to him now. In addition to this, helicopters were not considered effective f o r summer control work in t h e high country (Forest Service summer range), where t h e greatest sheep loss rate occurs. The use of Compound 1080 is viewed as a practical solution to both the problems of limited funding and limited access. How- e v e r , ADC personnel note that "a general and broad use of 1080 is not envisioned."
2.3. Concern w i t h the Environmental and Economic Effect. of Sheep h c h - ing end the ADC Program*
I t is claimed by many t h a t the private hunters and t r a p p e r s are t h e 'Environ- mentalists' in southwest Idaho. Private t r a p p e r s strongly object to the killing, by f e d e r a l control programs, of fur-bearing animals, such as t h e coyote. They are critical of t h e practice and t h e methods. Those spoken with suggest t h a t t h e federal program economically inhibits private trapping programs. They also disapprove of the methods used in t h e federal program, and suggest t h e i r trapping methods of very species specific.
Individuals involved in t h e federal control pnogram have expressed concern o v e r a lack of specificity in some ADC methods utilizing toxic substances. A Dis- trict Field Assistant complained about the discrepancy between laboratory r e s e a r c h and field application of control methods. He reported t h a t in o r d e r f o r 1080 bait stations to be coyote specific he "was supposed to leave not more than 16/1000 of a gram of 1080 in each pound of meat." Although h e went to extreme ef- f o r t s in an attempt at precision, h e concluded that i t w a s "mechanically impossible to treat a carcass in the field so that each pound of bait material contains t h e specified amount of 1080." He also pointed out that even if t h e 1080 w a s evenly distributed predators tend to gorge themselves when they find food. He concluded:
*Information i n t h i s s e c t i o n attained through discussione wlth trappers in southwestern Idaho, backpapere, a long t e r m resident of t h e W e s t .
"to t o t e t h a t these baits had no adverse effects on non-target species would re- violently ill from drinking contaminated water. Is this someone's idea of a wilder- n e s s a r e a ?
George Jorstad, a n American who personally experienced the West during t h e period covered by this p a p e r , responded to a n e a r l y d r a f t with t h e following: nal orifice, which secretes a n unctuous and oderous substance, this tainting t h e herbiage or stones o v e r which t h e animal walks.
Over-grazing and short-cropping of grasslands, you mention something about, but not this contamination. Y o u r back-packer told about s h e e p pollut- ing drinking water, which is true enough, but t h e back-packer, wherever you find him, i s an interloper in t h e country with no ecological relationship to t h e wilderness h e professes to love. He is always urban and academic and his ob- servations have more to d o with himself, as subject, amidst wild and unfamiliar scenes, then with t h e wilderness h e is viewing.
No objection can b e found with t h e sheep mnsidered as a farm animal, they moved like swarms of locusts from locality to locality leaving a wasteland behind them. about artificially t h i s because t h e creature could never have evolved natural- ly, and so, stands as a creation of t h e b r e e d e r ' s
&.
Or is b r e e d e r ' s scienceThat living, breathing allegory of Want that Mark Twain tells about.
W a s t h e r e e v e r a Western thriller yet, e i t h e r as shown on film or told about in as being sly, cunning, tricky, foxy, but with no approbrium attached. He stole t h e farmer's ducks, ran off with a goose now and then, raided t h e hen coup, and in myth and story. won approval f o r it.
The ooyote, on the o t h e r hand, did none of these things. He was never a that his acquaintance with the uoyote was gleaned from talk in the saloons of Virginia City, where h e found notions appealing to his r e a d e r s back east. His cert of eerie yaps, barks, and howls. There is something very primitive and wild in these concerts, t h a t is fearsome to other animals. A dog will bristle tennis shoes in N e w York, such killing is nothing but murder, and so, is resent- ed by all, even the common citizen and tax payer who doesn't s e e m to mind contributing to the keep of government hunters and staffs of scientists prob- ing the menace of the coyote.
A t t h e p r e s e n t time in Trinity County, California, t h e sheep men and Wool Growers Association people, are demanding t h a t t h e County employ five year- round hunters, equipped with all t h e gadgetry of extermination known to tech- nology to come to t h e i r aid. They r e p o r t t h e i r losses too great, and c l a i m t h a t t h e governments
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County, State, National-
are responsible.Nonsense. and worse. A s I look at It, t h e inept sheep are a n invader to everything t h a t is the West
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its mountains, its d e s e r t s , its grassy slopes. And along with t h e t e r r a i n , t h e r e are t h e life forms natural to It, including t h e predators.And in all fairness, if t h e sheep men want to run t h e i r sheep by thousands on t h e open range, they must a c c e p t t h a t range as it is. Or is i t , t h a t they ex- p e c t t h e country to be made o v e r to accommodate this despicable alien?
I'll end this by saying t h a t your Canis Latrans must be considered t h e t r u e s t of all Americans. May h e f o r e v e r defend our ranges from t h e p e s t t h a t is t h e sheep.
In San Francisco t h e r e is a n article entitled 'The Herding Day" t h a t ap- peared in t h e Atlantic Monthly y e a r s ago (like In t h e 1930's) t h a t , as I remember i t , is very interesting. I don't remember t h e author. There is a re- ligious matter t h a t pops up in t h e connection with t h e sheep. For instance, t h e shepherd
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t h e flask-
t h e lamb-
t h e lamb of God-
t h e epigram, 'the meek shall inherit t h e earth'-
weakness, innocence, debility-
are Christian senti- ments and t h e sheep f o r centuries have been emblem and symbol of weakness and piety.These attitudes and sentiments are still wlth us
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and, it would seem. workin favor of t h e sheepmen. Christians, everywhere, view t h e sheep kindly as a r e s u l t of biblical training
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Does this thinking a f f e c t lawmen?3. THE 'NATUBhL' SYSTEM