The British Columbia government has recently modified its regulations to grant wildlife officers enhanced authority to eliminate escaped or forsaken domestic sheep to safeguard wild sheep populations. This alteration, under the Wildlife Act, aims to prevent the spread of diseases that could result in significant casualties among wild herds.
Domestic sheep and wild sheep are susceptible to similar infectious agents, although their immune responses and disease resistance capabilities vary. One such bacterium, M. ovi, also known as Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, is prevalent in domestic sheep and goats, typically causing no harm. However, it can trigger fatal cases of pneumonia in wild sheep.
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship highlighted that the bacteria can be transmitted through shared grazing areas, water sources, or salt licks, leading to rapid dissemination within wild populations. Additionally, the regulatory adjustments now deem abandoning sheep on Crown land as a violation and empower the ministry to assume ownership of such animals.
