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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Harmful wild sheep measure removed from House bill

Bighorn sheep are suffering from pathogens rendering them susceptible to pneumonia while having no effect on domestic sheep. Montana has killed 200 bighorns to thwart an outbreak.  (File Associated Press)
Bighorn sheep are suffering from pathogens rendering them susceptible to pneumonia while having no effect on domestic sheep. Montana has killed 200 bighorns to thwart an outbreak. (File Associated Press)

WILDLIFE -- A coalition of sportsmen-conservationists today applauded the elimination of a controversial amendment from a U.S. House of Representatives appropriations bill that would have prohibited implementation of a science-based management plan for bighorn sheep populations in a national forest in Idaho.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agenciesand Wild Sheep Foundation roundly praised Rep. Mike Simpson’s decision to withdraw his rider to the House appropriations bill for interior, environment and related agencies.

The amendment would have prevented advancement of a management plan in the Payette National Forest that separates bighorn sheep from domestic sheep grazing on public lands. Simpson, of Idaho, is chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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