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Show Lf&yd cays Utah livesisckmen caught in predalsry control controversy Hop. Sherman V. Lloyd, R-i:iah, R-i:iah, said (his week that Utah livi'stwkmon are caught in the middle of the present controversy contro-versy concerning predator control programs. "Utah is one of the few states in the nation that still has a large range-sheep industry indus-try and it is estimated that losses caused by predators cost Utah ranchers in excess of $1 million annually," Lloyd said. The coyote is the chief predator pre-dator in Utah, accounting for nearly 80'. o of all lamb and ewe losses. Other predators causing significant damage are the cougar, eagle, and dog. "While I am steadfastly opposed op-posed to unnecessary killing of valuable wildlife, I feel that it is equally important to realize that some type of predator pre-dator control program is an economic necessity for the Utah Livestock industry," Rep. Lloyd said. "One very good example of the problem that Utah ranchers face is contained in a letter I received recently from a family in southrn Utah." They wrote, "Our family has been in livestock since early pioneer times in Manti, ami wo have continually Improved our ranges and tried to build up rather than tear anything down. But last year we lost $23,000 partly due to lamb losses of over 600 animals, chiefly to coyote and other predators. Our sheep herds number 4,500 and in one month last year we lost 150 lambs to coyotes. In the last two or three years there has been increased predator activity act-ivity and now the damages have become intolerable." A recent study has indicated that the total loss to the Utah economy as a result of predator pre-dator losses could total as much as $3.5 million annually, annual-ly, A federal Advisory Committee Com-mittee on Predator Control has pegged losses of livestock to predators in all 12 western states at upwards of $16 million mil-lion a year. "Certainly a significant reduction re-duction in predator control programs would only increase these losses to an Industry that is already caught in a tight squeeze," the Utah congressman con-gressman said. "The White House recently issued an executive order iban-ning iban-ning the use of poisons in predator pre-dator control on public lands, but is now reconsidering that decision because of protests from the livestock Industry." "A great number of people have become bitterly opposed to all predator control programs pro-grams because of the well publicized incidents concerning concern-ing the killing of eagles. While I share their concern for the protection of these endangered en-dangered species, I think that we should not let this indignation indig-nation run out of control," Lloyd said. |