Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ANTELOPE ISLAND, Utah (AP) -- Utah State Parks and Recreation officials are considering a proposal to allow the limited hunting of bighorn sheep on Antelope Island.
Jim Karpowitz, director of the Division of Wildlife Resources, says allowing the hunting of four or five older rams a year would help to thin the island's herd, which has reached 160.
Karpowitz said Thursday that overpopulation can make wildlife more susceptible to disease.
Nearly 40 bighorn sheep were introduced to the island that lies in the Great Salt Lake in 1998. The herd grew and 160 sheep were transplanted to other parks.
Karpowitz says issuing hunting permits for four rams would generate about $150,000 a year for the park.
------
Information from: Standard-Examiner
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
