OCR Text |
Show __The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH Sunday, November21, 1999 Viewers Test Luck At BighornFestival of the bill, says Karpowitz. proceeds from the sale of bighorn hunting permits (30 are issued eachyear at a cost of $500 eachfor Utah residents) and a yearly auc: tion of one permit each for a desert bighorn and Rocky Meuntain bighorn permit. The auction has fetched as much as $63,000 for each permit, and Karpowitz said Majestic wild sheep not always easyto spot SPECIALTO THE TRIBUNE MOAB — Spotting a bighorn sheep in the redrock canyons of southeastern Utah is akin to find- ing the proverbial needle in a haystack. Moab But this weekend in about 70 people from around thestate and as far away as Maine turned outto try their luck during the first Bighorn Sheep Festival. For days, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) wildlife biologists navigated the bumpy back country where the region’s desert bighorn make their home. Saturday morning, DWR biologists led four groups of sheep-happy hunters — armed only with cameras, binoculars andspotting scopes — to canyons and view areas where sheep had been sighted Friday. By the end of the day, all groups reported sighting some sheep, although one group spent mostof the day locking, but found only two or three of the elusive creatures. For most participants, the search washalf the fun. “Seeing themis really incredible. But just being out here is great,” said Sue Kraft, who travjeled from Price with her husband, John,forthefestival. One Salt Lake City family made the festival an educational outing. “It's pretty cool,” said Kevin Jackson, who attended with his parents Ellen and William, and his younger sister | Rachael. “My dadis really into seeing wildlife, but we all wanted to come.” Jim Karpowitz, DWRstate coordinator for bighorn sheep,said even when the annual auction incomeaverages about$100,000. cautioned would-be sheep view- BY LISA CHURCH the animals are nearby they canbe almost impossible to see. “If they didn’t have those whitetails, they’d be invisible,” Karpowitz explained in an interview Friday. “Sometimes you pass right by them and just don't see them atall.” Ata Friday nightlecture kicking off the festival, Karpowitz ers that the regal animals might not cooperate on Saturday. “We saw quite a few out there today, but that doesn’t mean they'll be there tomorrow. We're going to “We've been able to pay for urselves every year,” Karpowitz said. “It has really kept this prom going. The first Bighorn SheepFesti- do ourbestto find them,”hetold the 120 audience members. val is among one in a series of wildlife programs being sponsored by the DWR throughoutthe Karpowitz said the state agency chose mid-November for the new event because it coincides with the Desert Bighorn’s mating season,also known as the rut. During rut, Karpowitz said the ewes and rams are so distracted with courtship and combatthat they are much more visi- bl le. “It's the best time of year to see them. If you're lucky, you'll also get to see the rams butt horns for the right to mate the ewes,” Karpowitz said. Headbutting is a ritual test of strength between male sheep during mating season, with the most powerful — usually the older and ‘Lisa Church: Anna Reposa,left, Christina Richard and Richard Anderson search the rocky slopes of Long Canyonfor desert bighom sheep Saturday. and in their vehicles if sheep were close to the road. plained that while the sheep were far more visible due to mating season, they also “don’t need additional stress” from the presence of humans. “Don’t feed the sheep,” Karpowitz said. “And give them therespectthatall wild animals deserve.” While desert bighorn sheep were once abundantin Utah,Karpowitz said the sheep almost dis- appeared within a few years of ewe. When the rams smack horns at a dead run, the clash state. The herds near Moab are younger ramsin the presence of a sounds like a gunshot echoing through the canyons. “If you're out in the back canyonsand hear a sound like a loud pop, you should be looking for a sheep, not a gunman,” Karpowitz said. During Friday’s lecture Karpowitz showed film footage of fighting rams to illustrate how powerful and intense the feuds during rut season can be. Healso showed ram horns to the audi- white settlement throughout the the last of the native sheep in the area. But since the 1970s, the DWR hascarried out restoration projects throughout thestate, reintroducing both desert bighorn and their larger cousins Rocky Mountain bighorn into suitable habitat across the Colorado Plateau and in mountainousareasto the north. Since that time the desert bighorn population has grown to a healthy 2,600, and the Rocky Mountain sheep, which had all but disappeared, now number around 800. Karpowitz said the agency plans to increase herd sizes to 3,400 and 1,600 respec- animals, and to stay on the roads a Southwest Desert Wildlife Festival in St. George in early May and the Hardware Ranch ElkFestival, near Hiram in October. horn. Because the sheep refuse to take the usual bait of apples and hay, agency wildlife specialists must capture them using a helicopter. They fly over and capture out to the general public. “We have a lot of contact with the hunting public, but little with mostother people. We want these events to help foster a nonconsumptive appreciation One hope is that rural commu- nities will begin to see wildlife ds an economic resource that brings visitors to their area, and that agency hoped to sponsor similar eventsin other places throughout thestate. “Eventually, we'd like the com munities to sponsor these festi- vals themselves,” Shields said. “Then the agency can provide the resources, but the community has a sense of ownership.” The DWR is also encouraging private landowners te open their land to the public for similar wildlife viewing experiences. an animal with a netfired from a special rifle. Then the sheepis hobbled, blindfolded and placed in a protective bag before being transported by helicopter or truckto its new habitat. The capture technique can only net two sheep per hour if things go smoothly. At rental rates of $500 per hourfor helicopters plus personnel andothercosts, transporting a single desert bighorn typically costs about $500. The bighorn restoration program costs about $200,000 annually. But taxpayers don’t foot most ALL 2000 GRANDCARAVANS BBD, UNDERFACTORY INVOICE WEST VALLEY PODGE Includes College Grad Re www.westvalleydodge.com A MEMBER OF THE RICK WARNER AUTO GROUP 4175 W. 3500 S., See UT. 84120 + 801-955-7448 ACNE STUDY Malesage 18 to 35to take partin a research study testing an investigational medication taken by mouth. 6 month study.Subjects must have moderateto severe ecco Loving Living be comp Enjoy the Ultimate Pleasure in Walking °245 exeleewon CHILDREN’S roy wa eV Bae ‘MAKE GREAT GIFTS! ~ 1 FREE 8X10 PROFESSIONALPORTRAIT. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY VALUEDAT$12.95 0% OFF PERSONALIZED PHOTO GREETING CARDS WITH ANY HOLID, \s PORTRAIT PACKAGE 22 ON EY DAYS LEFT andyou can receive a FREE It’s more than a feeling,it’s a Whirlpool PASSION... WASHER, DRYER & REFRIGERATOR Feel the passion for yourself. (a $2,250 value) when you purchase any new Fieldstone Home by December 15, 1999. none For more information call 801/268-9100 FieldStone 652-1064 Are You Manager Material? The Circulation Department of the Newspaper Agency Corporation is sceking people interested in managing delivery of The Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News or Sunday ETC newspapers, run. This one also jogs, trots, strolis, ambles, JUDGE MEMORIAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT EXAM saunters... Mostfurnaces have only twospeeds: on or off. So your home's temperature constantly We have frequent openingsfor these positions in various areas throughout the Salt Lake Valley. In order tofill them as quickly as possible, we continually seek qualified candi dates whoare interested in this type of work. CSG TTS This is 8 full-time position managing delivery routes anddistrict manager assistants First year’s pay averages around $25,000 to $27,000, depending onexperience and bonuses. Includes a competitive benefits package. Tribune hours are carly moming weekdays; Deseret New's hours are ufteioon weekdays Both are carly weekends and bothrequire Sunday shifts This position requires management and leadership skills, flexibility, attention to detail and excellent customer service skills. Responsibilitiesinclude recruiting and training, carriers (0ensure accurate, on-time delivery of newspapers to subscribers; resolving cus tomer service problems; and directing the activities of the district manager assistants rises and falls. But the variable-speed Trane for 9th and 10th graders(entering Fall 2000) will be held Saturday, December4, 1999 8:00 am - 12:30 pm The exam will be given at Judge Memorial at 650 South 1100 East. Pre-registration for the exam is required. For information and registration,call Rita Scholl at (801) 363-8895 ext. 157, A make-up exam will be given on Saturday, January 15, 2000 at ¢ am. Three times awarded U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School 1998-99 National Service Learning Leader School www.judgememorial.com XV 80 produces asteady flow of warmth for wonderfully even comfort. And because it can operate at lower speeds andit's over 80% efficient, it’s incredibly economicalto operate. Call us for a demonstration. It's Hard Tb StopA Trane™ For a FREE in-homeestimate call =Manwill =(30 —Plumbing & Heating L.C. 385 E. 3900 S. 262-4671 *Ask about our “Warm Winter” specials! far wildlife and for the value of wildlife to communities,” Shields said. OVER 40 T0 CHOOSE FROM acne. Be in goodgeneral health. Qualified subjects will C87Sear ee Sota con PETE meas ie 800-370-1458 Salt Lake Birding Festival held in Davis County each May, the way the agency hopes to reach for southeast Utah’s desert big- alone weigh as much as 20 to 30 pounds. “That's a lot of weight for a 150-pound animal to carry onits head,” Karpowitz said. Karpowitz also laid out “viewing etiquette” for those who planned to attend Saturday's tour. He cautioned participants to keep distance between themselves and the sheep, to use binoculars instead of approaching the state. Other festivals and events include the Snow Goose Festival in Delta each March, the Great Wes Shields, state DWR coordi- nator of nature tourism, said the annual wildlife festivals are one tively within the nextfive years. But restoration is expensive ence, explaining that the horns Interest Rates Are Falling LAURER echt way Peciora: He ex- squaring off against largest — The program pays for itself through We have full-and part-time positions. The starting wageix $8 25 to $8.50per hour depending onthe area. The full-time position has # full benefits package. Approximate hours are; Tribune 3:30 a.m. 10 10:30 a.m, weekdays; Deseret News 2 p.m. to & p.m. weekdays. Both have early-morning weekend hours, TMC DISTRICT MANAGER Total Market Coverage District Manager oversees delivery of the Sunday ETC newspaPer to non-subscribers, This ix a full-time salaried position with a full benefits package. Staring wage is $350per week. Hours and days vary, you must work Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday withone or two days off during the week If youare interes » applying for openings available at this time, or tobe included on ‘our waiting list, contact Bonnie at (801) 237-2400for an interview appointment. All positions require a good driving record and » copy of your current motor vehicle report fromthe Department of Motor Vehicles Sce your classified line ad under *Managers* for information on current of Applicants nusst able to speak, read, write and understand English Postal PO, Box 45836, 84145, Phone (BOL) 237-2900 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER |