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By Michael J. Crumb, Associated Press Writer


      Two sheep dogs' attack on a Colorado mountain biker has prompted
ranchers in the West to seek better ways to manage the large dogs
that protect their herds against predators.

      The American Sheep Industry Association has been working with
state groups and federal agencies to address the problem as more
people make their way into once-remote areas where sheep graze.
With more hiking and biking trails being cut through public lands
the federal government leases to ranchers, sheep herders and
outdoors enthusiasts say it's a problem that has become more
urgent.


      "We have more and more dogs in use and more and more
encroachment into traditional agricultural areas, and we're running
into the need for more management of our dogs and education for the
public as to why the dogs are there and what they do," said Peter
Orwick, executive director of the American Sheep Industry
Association.


      The dogs, typically Great Pyrenees, protect sheep against
coyotes, mountain lions and bears and have become more common since
the 1970s and 80s, when the government banned traps and poisons as
ways to control predators.


      Without them, everyone agrees sheep ranchers would suffer huge
losses to predators and might give up the business.


      "When you come to terms where we can't protect our livestock
and can't protect our livelihood, it's just not worth it anymore,"
said Tony Theos, a Meeker, Colo. sheep rancher.


      The fluffy, white Great Pyrenees have long been used to guard
sheep in mountainous areas of Europe. They can reach 100 pounds or
more and are territorial, protective and fearless, according to the
American Kennel Club. That makes them formidable guard dogs and
fearsome attackers.


      Two pulled Renee Legro off her mountain bike near Vail, Colo.,
in July 2008 and mauled her. Legro needed 60 stitches to close her
wounds. The dogs' owner, Sam Robinson, was convicted of possession
of a dangerous dog, fined and ordered to perform community service.


      Legro and her attorney didn't return telephone messages.


      Robinson's attorney, Ted Hess, said he is appealing his
conviction, claiming there was no proof it was his dogs that
attacked Legro. Hess also said Legro is suing Robinson, who had his
dogs put down. Robinson lost a quarter of his herd to predators in
the year after, he added.


      The attack on Legro was an extreme case, but industry officials
acknowledge others have occurred.

      Mia Stockdale, who owns a mountain bike school in Vail, said she
was bitten by a sheep dog 15 years ago and incidents are becoming
more common. For her, the solution is simple: "The sheep should
not be near heavily used trails. Those dogs are super scary."

      Mike Kloser, another mountain biker from Vail, said he's been
chased and confronted by dogs numerous times and one once nipped a
person he was riding with. He advocated better communication
between ranchers and riders and said the dogs' owners need to be
responsible for their actions.

      "They will charge you," Kloser said. "You wouldn't think they
would be that aggressive, but they are."

      Sheep ranchers have tried to keep sheep and dogs away from roads
and trails on weekends and from areas where people are camping,
Theos said. He also has posted signs to make the public aware that
his sheep and dogs are nearby.

      But ranchers lease vast areas for their sheep to graze, and in
most cases, it's not feasible to block them off from trails the
public may have cut through.


      "It's a matter of education from both sides," Theos said.
"(The public) needs to be aware of their surrounding and where
they're at."


      Rob Roudabush, division chief of range land and resources for
the Bureau of Land Management, said he thinks it's possible for
both ranchers and the public to use the land but some level of
protection will probably be needed in recreational areas.


      "It's a huge wake-up call for the industry and the government
and we're trying to get ahead of the issue so we have reasonable
requirements in place to protect the public," he said.


      Along with posting signs, a task force created by the American
Sheep Industry Association has recommended ranchers neuter male
dogs to keep them from wandering, better socialize dogs to people
and vehicles so they don't view them as a threat, and keep guard
dogs off public lands if they show aggression toward people or
other leashed dogs, among other things.


      "A hiker or biker has just as much right as we do," said
Bonnie Brown, executive director of the Colorado Wool Growers
Association. "We are making a concerted effort to work with
producers to let them more intentionally manage these dogs."


      Janet McNally, who raises sheep and guard dogs near Hinckley,
Minn., said she's skeptical of the need for new rules because the
dogs might not entirely be to blame. In some cases, bicyclists have
ridden through sheep herds hooting and hollering, she said.


      "That does nothing but draw the attention of the dogs and it's
a very dangerous thing to do," McNally said.


      She said she'd like to see a review of incidents to see whether
the dogs were provoked or a particular breed is more prone to
attack.


      She raises Maremmas, which are similar in appearance and size to
the Great Pyrenees. The dogs are aloof, don't like contact with
people and stick close to the herd, which suits her situation in
eastern Minnesota.


      As puppies, they only get attention during feeding time, and
otherwise, are kept with the sheep. McNally took issue with the
suggestion they be better socialized.


      "The dogs that are the least social are the best guard dogs,"
she said. "Ones that are friendly and come up to you will stay
with you and not the sheep."


      McNally strongly advocated more public education about the dogs,
their purpose and how to avoid conflict when people run into them.


      "It's a troubling place to be," she said. "The dogs are there
to keep the sheep and intruder apart, whether it's four-legged and
furry or someone on a bicycle."

Gallery

Two sheep dogs' attack on a Colorado mountain biker has prompted
ranchers in the West to seek better ways to manage the large dogs
that protect their herds against predators.

Attack creates worries in West about sheep dogs

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