In November of 2006, the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia, together with our partners - the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS), Grand Slam Club Ovis and the Wild Sheep Society of
British Columbia, hosted a workshop at the Coast Inn of the North in Prince George. The intent of the workshop was to bring together people of various backgrounds who are knowledgeable and passionate about Stone’s Sheep
(Ovis dalli stonei) who would then propose and discuss strategies to address the future needs of Stone’s Sheep in British Columbia.
Attendees at the workshop included our own members, government officials from Region and Headquarters, recreational sheep hunters, members of the naturalist community and consultants. We engaged the services of a professional facilitator to assist the attendees in focusing their recommendations to those that were feasible and would ultimately be to the benefit of Stone’s Sheep.
There is some disagreement on whether there should be great concern over populations of Stone’s Sheep at the current time. However, there have been documented disappearances of sheep on certain ranges throughout the North. There is also reason to be concerned about the increasing industrial development within sheep range from both the energy and mineral sectors, as well as from forestry. Since British Columbia is home to 85% of the world’s population of Stone’s Sheep, we all have a special responsibility to ensure that this species, iconic of the rugged northern landscape, are not at risk from human encroachment. We believe there are ways to manage the landscape for energy and other resources that we all value while maintaining Stone’s Sheep for our own and future generations.
This results of the workshop included a list of 15 recommendations to assist in ensuring the continued sustainability of Stone’s Sheep in light of changing uses and diverse values on the northern landscape. These recommendations cover such issues as mapping critical ranges for use by industry, managing recreation, agricultural practices, changes in forage competition and forest dynamics, and predation. The recommendations were developed during the workshop in Prince George by working groups dealing with specific issues and threats to Stone’s Sheep.