BC Government Grants Wildlife Officers Expanded Powers to Protect Wild Sheep

The government of British Columbia has modified its regulations to grant wildlife officers increased authority to eliminate escaped or deserted domestic sheep with the aim of safeguarding wild sheep populations. According to a province announcement, the reclassification of domestic sheep under the Wildlife Act is intended to prevent the transmission of diseases that could result in significant declines in wild herds. Both domestic and wild sheep are susceptible to various infectious agents, although their immune responses and disease resistance levels vary. A bacteria called M. ovi, or Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, is prevalent in domestic sheep and goats, typically causing no harm; however, it can trigger fatal pneumonia in wild sheep. The Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship explained that the bacteria can spread through wild populations rapidly once introduced, often through grazing, water, or salt sources sharing. Furthermore, the regulation adjustments now deem abandoning sheep on Crown land as a violation and empower the ministry to take ownership of such animals.