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Show Heavy Snow Causing Problems for Ranchers Recent heavy snowfalls have caused serious problems for cattle ranchers in Garfield County. Thomas Henry, reported this year'4 total (in the Bryce Canyon area) at 87 inches compared to 19 inches last year at this time with the most recent 27 inches containing over 2Vi inches of water. Crusting of earlier falls with new snow on top causes particular problems for cattle, scraping and injuring their legs and hooves. Many ranchers have formed cooperative parties to seek out their cattle on the ranges, hauling feed and trying to free them from their immobilized positions in the deep snow, bringing them back to winter nearby where they can be more readily provided with necessary feed. Some areas have fared better than others with most reports from Escalante stating that the situation there appears to be all right. Many ranchers there have taken in sup-. plemental feed and protein blocks to their cows, which as a rule were found in relatively good condition. In the Bryce Valley area where the snowfall was heavier, conditions were generally somewhat worse. Ranchers there utilized the county caterpillar to make a path some 11 feet wide, then followed on horseback many miles trying to reach their animals. Later they tried snowmobiles to reach their stranded cattle, but found the snow too soft for practical use of the vehicles. Finally, they used snowshoes to walk in, a time consuming and tiring method. Olaf Shakespear, operating the county cat, reported that one group of ranchers he worked with spent several days searching for their animals and that there was yet much work to do. Having found about 40 cattle, this particular group was still missing about 15 more. Working in snow often 4'i feet deep, theycovercdan area with about a 5 mile radius near Upper and Lower Sheep Creek. In consulting those knowledgeable' about snowfall in the Panguitch area, it was determined that although the accumulated snowfall was higher this year, the weather was more of an irritant than a life threatening problem to Panguitch cattle ranchers. It was noted that county agencies in the Panguitch area were able to keep all county roads clear and accessible except on days of extreme windy conditions. At various times ranchers Have had to depart from normal access routes making their way through open fields to reach stranded cattle and sheep. Ranchers are concerned about keeping their cattle in good condition and feel that if the current market holds, they will still get a good price |