Sheep Return to City Open Space, Pet Owners Required to Leash Dogs Near Herd

By BECKY GOODRICH

Fast Facts:

  • About 70 sheep will be grazing on City open space again this summer to control noxious weeds.
  • Pet owners must leash dogs when hiking near the sheep herd.
  • Dogs that are not normally aggressive may attack grazing animals.
  • Grazing is an economical, chemical-free way to manage weeds and restore native plant growth.
  • The City loses several sheep each year to domestic dog attacks—with most losses occurring near the North Hills Froehlich trailhead.

Visitors to City open space are reminded: leash your dog when hiking near grazing sheep this summer. About 70 sheep will be grazing on noxious weeds in the North Hills for the next several weeks, until the herd moves to Mount Jumbo later in the summer. Hikers using the North Hills Froehlich Trailhead, located at I-90 and Orange, are asked to be especially vigilant about protecting the herd from off-leash dogs.

Grazing is an economical, chemical-free way to manage weeds and restore native plant growth—as long as the sheep can be protected. Conservation Lands Manager Morgan Valliant says the city loses several sheep each year to domestic dog attacks.

Much of the time, Valliant says, the dogs involved in the attacks come to City open space with their owners, and the attacks occur out of the owner’s line of sight. Pet owners are often surprised when their dogs’ predatory instincts cause them to behave aggressively toward livestock. Chasing other animals is a natural instinct in dogs.  Even dogs that are not normally aggressive may attack grazing animals.  For this reason, open space users are required to keep dogs leashed when hiking near the sheep and owners will be cited for “dog-at-large” by if they fail to do so.

In addition, dogs must be under voice restraint on City open space at all times, and must be leashed in parking lots, 200 yards from all trailheads and where posted.  Please report violations to Missoula Animal Control at 541-7387.  Pet owners are also required to remove their pet’s waste from all parks, trails and open space.

If Animal Control officers are unavailable, please note the date, time, location and parties involved in any incident involving dogs on open space and report to Missoula Parks and Recreation at 552-6253.  Courts can levy fines up to $275 for a “dog at large” citation, and restitution can include all veterinary and transportation expenses and the replacement value of the sheep.

Valliant says using grazing to control weeds is a good deal for open space users.  “The alternative to grazing is herbicides.  The sheep help us manage weeds on over 1000 acres without using chemicals.  We’re asking for the public’s help in this very narrow time frame (three to four weeks) to control their dogs and let the sheep herd do its work.”