Virus kills sheep, wildlife in state

The deadly bluetongue virus has killed more than 300 domestic sheep in the Worland, Otto, Basin and Greybull areas of the Big Horn Basin, state officials say.

The outbreak of bluetongue has also killed antelope, whitetail deer and mule deer in the Big Horn Basin, as well as antelope and mule deer in the Cody, Sinclair and Douglas areas.

Sheep owners are urged to contact their veterinarians if they notice symptoms of the disease in their flocks - high fever, excessive salivation, and swelling of the face and tongue.

Don Montgomery, director of the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, said in a news release that samples from sheep, either live or dead animals, can be collected and sent to the lab for testing.

Bluetongue's distinctive name is due to blue discoloration of the mouth and lips of infected animals. The cause of death in affected sheep is usually pneumonia.

The disease is transmitted by small biting midges commonly called "no-see-ums."

As of Thursday, the veterinary lab had confirmed infection in sheep on seven ranches. Big Horn Basin veterinarian Tim Graham reports that about 300 of 900 affected sheep in one range flock died from the infection.

Livestock premises with confirmed infection have been quarantined.

Robbery suspect returns to prison

ANACONDA, Mont. - One of the men suspected in a string of robberies in three states will spend two years in prison for violating his probation for an earlier conviction.

Camille Adams, 21, was sentenced Wednesday by District Judge Ray Dayton in Anaconda.

Adams admitted leaving Montana without permission from his probation officer, violating the terms of a previously suspended sentence.

But he denied being involved in convenience store robberies in Sheridan, in Montana and a casino robbery on the South Dakota-Nebraska state line.

Adams was arrested in Chadron, Neb., last month along with his cousins Jeremy Adams and Jordan Adams; as well as Jacob Kraus and Sean Jones. All have waived extradition to Montana.

Forest accepts grazing comments

The Black Hills National Forest is accepting public comment until Dec. 3 on whether it should revise grazing plans for 10 allotments comprising 92,800 acres within the Spearfish and Sundance ranger districts.

The Wyoming allotments include Grand Canyon, Sten's Park, Willow Springs, Silver Creek, Black Haw and Hulett Springs.

The draft environmental impact statement is expected April 2008, and the final environmental impact statement is expected August 2008. There have been requests for grazing permits on lands not currently being grazed.

Send written comments to Rhonda O'Byrne, Northern Hills Ranger District, 2014 N. Main, Spearfish, S.D., 57783. Comment may also be submitted by e-mail to: {M7comments-rocky-mountain-black-hills-northern-hills@fs.fed.us with "North Zone Range 08" as subject.

For further information, contact Julie Wheeler at the Bearlodge Ranger District, P.O. Box 680, Sundance, WY 82729, phone (307) 283-1361.