Ranching, recreation collide in the great outdoors

Los Angeles Times ^ | November 27, 2009 | Nicholas Riccardi

[missycocopuffs]

Reporting from Camp Hale, Colo. - As soon as Renee Legro saw the sheep, she screamed.

The herd, 1,300 strong, has been coming for 30 years to graze in this valley on the backside of the Continental Divide. But as Colorado has become an adventure sports destination, the once-empty valley has filled with hikers, campers and mountain bikers like Legro, and she was about to tragically embody the collision of the old West with the new.

Legro, 33, screamed because she knew what came with the herd -- guard dogs. Shortly after she rolled down a hill and came upon the sheep, a dog leaped at her, locked its jaws on her hip and yanked her off her bike.

A second dog pounced as she fell. The two enormous canines, powerful enough to fend off bears, tore at her until her cries drew two campers who drove them off. The emergency-room doctor lost count of how many stitches she required.

To Legro and her husband, Steve, there was one person responsible -- Sam Robinson. One of a dwindling number of sheepherders in Colorado's mountains, Robinson, 54, turned to guard dogs a decade ago, after the state banned the use of traps to prevent mountain lions, coyotes and bears from destroying herds.

"We don't have any other option," Robinson said.

The Legros see things differently. In their years of hiking, biking and skiing the magnificent open spaces near Vail, they have fled from ranchers' dogs several times. "I cannot bring my dog up to the forest and let it run wild and attack people," said Steve Legro, 37. "Neither should anyone else."

They wanted Robinson charged with a crime.

[dennisw]

You and yr wife are responsible users of the great outdoors which belong to all on public land. I’m merely saying that sheep ranchers and producers come first and were in fact there first in this particular incident. They have a higher priority than the recreation seekers. Who are 100% legit but a notch lower on the totem pole (to my way of thinking)

[sheepherder]

Another hard hit to the sheep industry and likely one less producer of food and wool in our country. The poor guy will probably end up selling his flock as he won’t be able to make a living with predators killing off his sheep.
This is just because of one person who had no business being around his flock. What else are the lgds supposed to do if some screaming alien on two wheels charges at and attacks their flock, but protect? This is what they are bred for. They might not have even realized this thing on a bike was human.
She should have been required to do 500 hours of farm service for the shepherd. If she still didn’t feel remorse then probably should be banned from buying any ag products grown in the US.

“I put the lady’s right to access above that of the sheep herder, who has, more likely than not, hired illegal aliens to watch the herd.”
I bet you don’t buy any agriculture products , dairy, lotions, wool, meat.
How easily we forget where our food comes from.

[Sheep Rancher]

You've jumped to the conclusion that Sam Robinson mustuse illeagals to heard his sheep.
You need to do your homework before you make comments that are out of line.
Sam, like the rest of us sheep herders have to use H2A agricultural workers because there is NO citizen of the USA that ever applies for a job as a sheep herder. The majority of sheep herders now come to the USA from Peru and other South American countries. They must have prior experience with sheep and the process to bring them here is lengthy and costly for the sheep industry. They are here as legal workers doing a job that no one else will do.
If you are interested in applying for such a job you can contact your state workforce office and I'm sure they will send you an application, but you must be qualified and willing to work.
Our H2A workers are treated very well. They earn their salary on a contract basis and they are provided with room and board. Americans should thank these people for coming here to assist ranchers in providing nutritious healthy food for America and other parts of the world.

[Nephi]

The sum of the story is that the sheep herder was found GUILTY, and SAYS he is losing sheep because he WON’T use dogs anymore, but apparently, that is being disputed. He demonstrated bad judgment in finding a race in progress on the public land he shares access, and he didn’t tell his “professional Peruvian sheep herders” that were 1) nowhere to be found when one of his dogs bit someone a week earlier 2) were nowhere to be found when race organizers were setting up the race course 3) were nowhere to be found the day of the race 4) were nowhere to be found when campers rescued the legal American citizen using public land lawfully. If you want to believe that he has “professional Peruvian sheep herders” and they are here in the US legally, and that they are Peruvian, that is your prerogative, after all, some people believe ObaMao is here legally, too. There is no evidence in this story to support your belief, but there is rampant use of illegal aliens in the Vail area, as one of the other posters acknowledged.

I’ve ridden the area, and encountered the herd, which can be in one location one day, and another the next. I don’t know of any hotline mountain bikers can call to find out where on public land the sheep are, either. I do know that based on what I’ve learned from this thread, I am going to do everything in my power to oppose sub-human sheep herders and their “professional Peruvian sheep herders” from grazing their sheep on our public land.