Do sheep bother elk?

[jackelope]

A couple or years ago I was driving down the 1500 at night and happen to notice elk and sheep together.

Can't believe some people don't agree with it, but the reality is sheep grazing has gone on in these hills since the white man existed in the area. I'm on the pro sheep side as they have a place in the national forests.

I’m curious what you know about wild sheep being culled because of the diseases they catch from domestic sheep? Specifically the entire Tieton herd?

[zwickeyman]

What MTNWALKER said. Seen it in Idaho many times

[coachcw]

the amount of money made by leasing nf to sheep herders is squat . Id gladly pay a extra dollar on my licence to offset it . I really don't see benefit for the forest unless eating the grasses down to nothing is good ?

[pianoman9701]

grazing public lands help keep grasses and undergrowth down and helps eliminate fire danger. I have no experience with diseases passing from domestic to wild, however. I've had sheep come through a stand once. Thought I was about to fill an elk tag. What a surprise. 

[boneaddict]

Other than carrying to disease to bighorns, I find its a good thing, though they can sure ravage a pretty meadow.   They dont bother the elk at all.  Cattle and sheep grazing is a good thing for fire and also breaks down the brush.    Sheep driveways have been around a long time and a great place to hunt in areas that might otherwise be a thick tangle.   Cattle may range an area but sheep are generally on the move.   There are some controversial areas though, especially down here in the Yak (Bethel ridge, Tieton, Nile) due to the bighorns. 

[elkfins]

They graze sheep in the Taneum every year.  I've never seen a negative effect on the elk... they are always in their normal areas regardless of whether sheep are in the area or not.

[pianoman9701]

Hoof rot starters

There is zero evidence to suggest that elk hoof disease is contracted by domestic livestock.

[HoofsandWings]

In dry years like this one, the sheep herder moves his sheep through areas where the grass has not dried out. I have seen them within the borders of oak creek where my cameras were.
Usually between 100 and 200 sheep graze through the area. Sometimes twice in the same fall season. And they were not out in meadows, but grazed through heavy cover.

[gasman]

Was through the unit yesterday checking cams, no more pic of sheep and did not see the sheep any place we were at in the unit. They are defiantly out of the Little Rattlesnake area 

[Humptulips]

Hoof rot starters

There is zero evidence to suggest that elk hoof disease is contracted by domestic livestock.

I believe he means the reverse of that.

[HoofsandWings]

Was through the unit yesterday checking cams, no more pic of sheep and did not see the sheep any place we were at in the unit. They are defiantly out of the Little Rattlesnake area 

That would be good news. My cams picked them up in the latter part of September. The sheep herders all dressed the same although I believe, I recorded two, maybe three.

Standard Peruvian dress.

[branches]

Like I have said before, Please keep all of those **%^$E#@WTF!$^@ Sheep out of our elk woods.

[Oh Mah]

Hoof rot starters

There is zero evidence to suggest that elk hoof disease is contracted by domestic livestock.

Is there any evidence you can show that they don't?

[yakimanoob]

Domestic-to-wild disease transfer is widely-documented and a serious risk, at least for M. Ovi pneumonia.  It honestly baffles me that they allow sheep grazing in the Bethel unit, or anywhere else near bighorns. 

I'm skeptical of the argument that sheep grazing on NF lands is beneficial to the wild animal populations.  Fire control sure, but I'd rather see that done with controlled burning or, here's a novel idea: higher concentrations of big horns, mtn goats, deer, and elk to graze the brush. 

Are there noxious weeds that only domestic sheep eat?  That would be a decent reason to have them around, but otherwise I just don't see the point.