It’s been nearly two months since Rena tangled with wolves while protecting our sheep herd in the foothills of the southern Wind River Mountains. She has recovered nicely – no major muscle loss, but some stiffness in her hind end remains, and we suspect that won’t change. The sheep herd has moved home for the winter, and Rena is happily back on guardian duty, but tires easily. We’re hopeful for a quiet winter.
The essay I posted here on Q about the weekend of the wolf attacks on our herd has been widely read, and I’m pleased to say that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe was one of those readers. Ashe quoted some of the essay at a carnivore conservation conference at Yale this week, and showed the crowd a photo of wounded Rena. His point in doing so was to urge those present “to think about the people who must share the landscape with these species. We need their support, their understanding and their forbearance if we want to see large carnivores roaming free.
“We must seek solutions that work for them, as well as for the species we manage. To do otherwise will perpetuate the conflict and make it harder for carnivores to gain acceptance.
“Compassion and empathy. That’s the key.” Amen to that, Mr. Ashe. Thanks for spreading the word.
Rena’s responsibilities have increased now that she’s healed up and her sheep are home. Her 9-year old mother, Luv’s Girl, gave birth to four pups in early October, so she’s on maternity leave. Luv’s Girl will race out to join Rena in reacting to a perceived threat, but she isn’t actively patrolling since she’s too busy tending to her pups. We’re night penning the sheep to give the dogs a break, but Rena stays double-busy checking the herd, and then checking her mother with the new puppies in their natal den. We’ll keep one of the pups to raise in our herd, and send the others out to other livestock producers who need working dogs. I think we can say with confidence that this lineage is wolf- and bear-tested.
5 comments:
See what a great influence/perspective you as an individual(with real experiences) can have, Cat? That's GREAT the wildlife guy used your stuff! We CAN all get along if we are fair and sensible and avoid polarizing on these issues! Maybe people will realize that folks like me that are on the fence on these issues(I love wolves and other "problem" predators/but I believe ranchers have rights as well) aren't being wishy-washy(as I am accused of often by the polarized ones), but trying to REMOVE those fences!....L.B.
Awfully glad to hear that Rena is doing well.
I so appreciate the education I've been receiving by following Cat on her Facebook pages and other articles she writes. We all reacted in horror and sadness when Rena was hurt protecting her flock and were so thankful that she recovered and was able to be back with her herd. Cat's pictures and comments makes one feel like they're out on the range with the dogs and sheep. Thanks, Cat!
Great article and so important . It is so important to be able to live with other species with compassion . I have Maremmas for my sheep and I could not be a shepherd without them . We have coyotes and bears and bobcats here in New England.
Thanks to each of you for your comments. I was really pleased that FWS Director Ashe heard the message, and feels the same way.
Post a Comment