The Forest Service is wading through public comments on its proposal to continue to allow ranchers to graze up to 5,600 sheep in the largest wilderness area in Colorado, which is three-quarters of the size of Rhode Island, says The Associated Press. Despite hopes that a decision on the year-old proposal would be announced this winter, it could be months before that happens, according to a Forest Service spokeswoman.
The Forest Service proposal involves almost 50,000 acres, or one-tenth of the 780 square miles in the Weminuche Wilderness, which spans the Continental Divide in southwestern Colorado. An environmental assessment by the Forest Service said the high country and alpine tundra used as summer range for the sheep was in generally good condition, so grazing could continue. Environmental groups question the use of public lands for private business and say the sheep could transmit disease to the bighorn sheep that live in the wilderness area.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced it will work with the Forest Service on a five-year study of the bighorn sheep. A helicopter crew was to begin work today to locate and tag bighorns with a GPS collar so officials can see how the sheep use their habitat.