From: To: Subject: Attachments: Bowey, Jan M -FS Olson, Dale -FS; Waltee, Dean FW: Bighorn Sheep Conversation - Ewe Carcass on Black Butte Wednesday, May 24, 2017 4:20:40 PM image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png 20170524MFWPConvesationCarcassReport.pdf Dean Dale also reviewed the record. Corrected a typo and added the seasonal habitat components lacking in the Black Butte area are described in the New Information Report. Please delete the prior record and replace with this one. From: Bowey, Jan M -FS Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 12:32 PM To: Waltee, Dean <DWaltee@mt.gov> Cc: Olson, Dale -FS <dolson07@fs.fed.us> Subject: RE: Bighorn Sheep Conversation - Ewe Carcass on Black Butte Wow! Considering how long it took for me to get the draft in your inbox that s incredibly quick turnaround. I made the changes as recommended. For your info, here s what I filed in our records. Page D-1
CONVERSATION RECORD 4/20/17 Time: 1500 Type: Visit Conference Telephone: Meeting X Incoming Outgoing File Designation(s): 2210 Gravelly Sheep Allotments Location: Alder Fire Hall Name Of Person: Dale Olson, Jan Bowey, Dean Waltee Organization Represented: Madison Ranger District, BDNF, MFWP Summary of Conversation: The purpose of the meeting was to determine if information received by the BDNF about a 2013 bighorn ewe carcass observation on Black Butte alters MFWP s 3/20/17 comments on the New Information Review and determine if MFWP suggests management changes for the upcoming grazing season. Due to the passage of time, MFWP (and subsequently the BDNF) cannot verify if the observed carcass was a bighorn ewe or determine cause of death, source herd and if domestic/bighorn comingling occurred. Individual bighorn sheep have the ability to foray long distances and, because bighorns are wild animals, such forays are difficult to predict in terms of distance, location and frequency. MFWP manages bighorn sheep populations as described in the 2010 Conservation Strategy and recognizes a risk of pathogen exposure and spread from one bighorn herd to another. Even if the agency could verify the observation, MFWP would not view presence of an individual animal as indication a herd is establishing or tendency of a herd to disperse and occupy a new area. Habitat in the vicinity of Black Butte is limited and lacks seasonal components as described in the New Information Review. Bighorn herds in the general area have not shown a tendency to migrate to and from summer/winter ranges or are beginning to disperse to new areas due to availability of habitat in the areas they currently occupy. MFWP views continued management under the MOU (as modified in 2016) as a proactive measure that reduces the risk of comingling of domestic and bighorn sheep in the Gravelly Landscape. MFWP does not have additional recommendations for reducing the risk of pathogen exposure to bighorn sheep and because of minimal domestic bighorn sheep conflict to date sees no current need to alter current management of domestic sheep permitted on the BDNF in the vicinity of Black Butte. However, future reviews of domestic sheep management may be warranted if bighorn sheep routinely appear in the vicinity of the domestic sheep allotments and domesticbighorn conflicts arise. Action: None Signature of Recorder: /s/ Jan M. Bowey 5/24/17 Page D-2
From: To: Subject: Attachments: Waltee, Dean Bowey, Jan M -FS RE: Bighorn Sheep Conversation - Ewe Carcass on Black Butte Wednesday, May 24, 2017 12:10:00 PM image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png 20170420MadisonMFWPConversation_waltee.docx Hi Jan, Thanks for the opportunity to review. I suggest the additional narrative in the attached. Dean Waltee Wildlife Biologist Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks PO Box 758, Sheridan, Montana Office: (406)842-7407 From: Bowey, Jan M -FS [mailto:] Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 11:57 AM To: Waltee, Dean; Olson, Dale -FS Subject: Bighorn Sheep Conversation - Ewe Carcass on Black Butte Sorry! This conversation record got buried on my computer and I did NOT get it forwarded to you in a timely manner. Please review the attached document. Does it adequately cover our April 20 th discussion? Did I capture MFWP s view appropriately? Let me know if you have changes (or even if you don t). Once I hear back, I ll date it and put it in the analysis record. THANKS! Page D-3
CONVERSATION RECORD 4/20/17 Time: 1500 Type: Visit Conference Telephone: Meeting X Incoming Outgoing File Designation(s): 2210 Gravelly Sheep Allotments Location: Alder Fire Hall Name Of Person: Dale Olson, Jan Bowey, Dean Waltee Organization Represented: Madison Ranger District, BDNF, MFWP Summary of Conversation: The purpose of the meeting was to determine if information received by the BDNF about a 2013 bighorn ewe carcass observation on Black Butte alters MFWP s 3/20/17 comments on the New Information Review and determine if MFWP suggests management changes for the upcoming grazing season. Due to the passage of time, MFWP (and subsequently the BDNF) cannot verify if the observed carcass was a bighorn ewe or determine cause of death, source herd and if domestic/bighorn comingling occurred. Individual bighorn sheep have the ability to foray long distances and, because bighorns are wild animals, such forays are difficult to predict in terms of distance, location and frequency. MFWP manages bighorn sheep populations as described in the 2010 Conservation Strategy and and recognizes a risk of pathogen exposure and spread from one bighorn herd to another. Even if the agency could verify the observation, MFWP would not view presence of an individual animal as indication a herd is establishing or tendency of a herd to disperse and occupy a new area. Habitat in the vicinity of Black Butte is limited and lacks seasonal components. Bighorn herds in the general area have not shown a tendency to migrate to and from summer/winter ranges or are beginning to disperse to new areas due to availability of habitat in the areas they currently occupy. MFWP views continued management under the MOU (as modified in 2016) as a proactive measure that reduces the risk of comingling of domestic and bighorn sheep in the Gravelly Landscape. MFWP does not have additional recommendations for reducing the risk of pathogen exposure to bighorn sheep and because of minimal domestic bighorn sheep conflict to date sees no current need to alter current management of domestic sheep permitted on the BDNF in the vicinity of Black Butte. However, future reviews of domestic sheep management may be warranted if bighorn sheep routinely appear in the vicinity of the domestic sheep allotments and domestic-bighorn conflicts arise. Action: None Page D-4
Signature of Recorder: /s/ Jan M. Bowey Page D-5
From: To: Subject: Attachments: Bowey, Jan M -FS Waltee, Dean; Olson, Dale -FS Bighorn Sheep Conversation - Ewe Carcass on Black Butte Wednesday, May 24, 2017 11:56:00 AM 20170420MadisonMFWPConversation.docx image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png Sorry! This conversation record got buried on my computer and I did NOT get it forwarded to you in a timely manner. Please review the attached document. Does it adequately cover our April 20 th discussion? Did I capture MFWP s view appropriately? Let me know if you have changes (or even if you don t). Once I hear back, I ll date it and put it in the analysis record. THANKS! Page D-6
CONVERSATION RECORD 4/20/17 Time: 1500 Type: Visit Conference Telephone: Meeting X Incoming Outgoing File Designation(s): 2210 Gravelly Sheep Allotments Location: Alder Fire Hall Name Of Person: Dale Olson, Jan Bowey, Dean Waltee Organization Represented: Madison Ranger District, BDNF, MFWP Summary of Conversation: The purpose of the meeting was to determine if information received by the BDNF about a 2013 bighorn ewe carcass observation on Black Butte alters MFWP s 3/20/17 comments on the New Information Review and determine if MFWP suggests management changes for the upcoming grazing season. Due to the passage of time, MFWP (and subsequently the BDNF) cannot verify if the observed carcass was a bighorn ewe or determine cause of death, source herd and if domestic/bighorn comingling occurred. Individual bighorn sheep have the ability to foray long distances and, because bighorns are wild animals, such forays are difficult to predict in terms of distance, location and frequency. MFWP manages bighorn sheep populations as described in the 2010 Conservation Strategy and and recognizes a risk of pathogen exposure and spread from one bighorn herd to another. Even if the agency could verify the observation, MFWP would not view presence of an individual animal as indication a herd is establishing or tendency of a herd to disperse and occupy a new area. Habitat in the vicinity of Black Butte is limited and lacks seasonal components. Bighorn herds in the general area have not shown a tendency to migrate to and from summer/winter ranges or are beginning to disperse to new areas due to availability of habitat in the areas they currently occupy. MFWP views continued management under the MOU (as modified in 2016) as a proactive measure that reduces the risk of comingling of domestic and bighorn sheep in the Gravelly Landscape. MFWP does not have additional recommendations for reducing the risk of pathogen exposure to bighorn sheep and sees no need to alter current management of domestic sheep permitted on the BDNF in the vicinity of Black Butte. Action: None Signature of Recorder: /s/ Jan M. Bowey Page D-7