Sheep's guardians keep Colorado backcountry enthusiasts at bay

Backcountry visitors know the drill on how to act in confrontations with dangerous animals: Rise up and make yourself look bigger if a mountain lion approaches; never run from a bear. Now comes a new rule: When you encounter a huge, snarling dog, sternly give the command, "Go back to the sheep." Hikers and cyclists around Silverton and Durango have complained to federal land managers, law enforcement authorities and local officials that they no longer can enjoy the backcountry because they so fear the bigger and more aggressive breeds of dogs that help keep predators from sheep herds. The dog detractors have written a flurry of letters-to-the-editor in local papers detailing snarling, lunging and snapping encounters with canines that can be nearly 3 feet tall and weigh as much as 140 pounds. The controversy has escalated because some in the sheep industry have questioned whether some of those reports of attacks have been exaggerated or are unnecessarily inflammatory. And some of the backcountry users have ratcheted up their complaints, in a by-the-way manner, to say that sheep shouldn't be allowed on multiple-use federal lands. "Nobody wants a problem," said Bonnie Brown, who has been charged as executive director of the Colorado Wool Growers Association with helping quell the canine controversy...more

Enviros lobby against traps, 1080 collars and general predator control saying rancher should use guard dogs.  With other tools taken away the rancher uses guard dogs and to the surprise of many they appear to be effective so enviros complain of confrontations with guard dogs.  If they get the guard dogs banned it will get them one step closer to their goal of getting the livestock off federal land.