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Resident urges action after Memorial Day shooting at county cemetery; commissioners and sheriff discuss options
Summary
A member of the cemetery board reported an extreme gopher infestation and described a Memorial Day incident in which a resident discharged a firearm while attempting to control gophers; speakers cited Montana Code 45-8 provisions, discussed non-lethal control methods and asked the sheriff for guidance.
During public comment, John (representing the cemetery board) described an ongoing gopher overrun at the county cemetery and reported that, on Memorial Day, a local resident fired at a gopher on cemetery grounds. The incident drew police attention; the resident later apologized but the cemetery board raised safety concerns about shooting near grave markers and near the highway.
John said the cemetery board debated posting "no discharge of weapons" signs and that two separate motions at the cemetery board failed (one to place signs, the other to add a notice in the paper encouraging residents to coordinate pest control). He told commissioners the board is testing alternative control methods, including a gas-engine-driven device to fumigate gopher holes.
Representatives present discussed Montana statutes referenced by deputies (cited in the meeting as "Montana Code 45-8 d111"), which a deputy said could apply if a large number of people are endangered (for example during a funeral). Commissioners and county law enforcement suggested continued coordination: the cemetery board should notify the sheriff's office about incidents and consider controlled, coordinated pest-control approaches rather than individuals shooting on-site.
John urged the county to help identify safe, legal control strategies and to clarify enforcement options; commissioners asked staff to research how other rural cemeteries manage gophers and to coordinate with the sheriff about signage and enforcement approaches.
No formal county policy was adopted at the meeting; the matter was raised for further information and potential follow-up with the cemetery board and sheriff.
