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Rancher testimony at commission: oppose bighorn sheep releases, cite lost grazing revenue
Summary
A public commenter read testimony from a ranching family claiming past bighorn introductions cost them about $17,000 in lease revenue and $15,000 in legal and consultant fees and urged caution on future releases without coexistence measures.
Cliff Gardner (S3) read into the record a written testimony from Josephine Martarelli alleging that prior bighorn sheep releases near Miller Basin limited domestic sheep grazing and caused economic loss. The testimony said, "The cuts on our range have already cost us approximately $17,000 in lost lease revenue and another 15,000 for attorneys, consultants, and our personal expenses." Gardner read Martarelli's account that ranchers had offered coexistence measures, including a five-year experimental period and reimbursement for bighorn losses attributed to contact with domestic sheep, but that the wildlife department refused those offers.
The public comment was presented during the general-public comment period; commissioners did not take action on the topic during this meeting. Gardner concluded the testimony by questioning whether affected landowners received due process and compensation before wildlife introductions.
