Wildlife Agencies and Environmental Group Team up to Protect Both Sheep and Grizzly Bears
“There's no way they could keep those bears out, so we did what we had to do,” said Norris Richins, the owner of the sheep. Last year, Mr. Richins lost three sheep to grizzly bears, but had lost none before then.
The fence cost more than $8,000, of which Defenders contributed $4,200, and the three agencies covered the balance. Two grizzly bear were also trapped and removed from the area. Defenders also paid Richins full market value, $2,480, for all the sheep verified killed. One of the ewes killed was only one hundred yards from his house.
“Electric fencing has proven extremely successful in preventing bears and other predators from killing livestock,” noted Minette Johnson, Northern Rockies Regional Representative for Defenders of Wildlife. ‘We were happy to help Norris protect his sheep”.
“The agencies really pulled together on this one and made it happen.” says Mike Madel, Grizzly Bear Management Specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. “We all recognized that it was a priority to secure this pasture before any more grizzlies got into trouble.”
Madel played a pivotal role in reaching out to the different groups to generate support for this project.
With funding from The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Program, Defenders of Wildlife uses cost-share agreements with private landowners on projects to help them live with large carnivores. Projects include purchasing electric fencing materials to create secure calving grounds and sheep bedding grounds, buying bear-resistant dumpsters for communities, and securing the retirement of grazing allotments in key grizzly bear habitat. Since its creation, Defenders has provided more than $111,000 for proactive projects to encourage grizzly bear recovery. See Carnivore Conservation Fund for more information.
Since 1997 Defenders has also offered compensation for livestock losses caused by grizzly bears, and has paid more than $92,000 for 127 incidents during that time.
###
Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 430,000 members and supporters, 90,000 in California alone, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues. To stay current on hot topics in wildlife conservation, subscribe to DENlines, Defenders of Wildlife’s electronic update and action alert network. To subscribe to DENlines or for more information on Defenders of Wildlife projects, please visit www.defenders.org.
Contact(s):
Minette Johnson, Defenders of Wildlife, (406) 549-4103Mike Madel, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, (406) 466-5100
