The British Columbia government has recently modified its regulations to grant wildlife officers expanded authority to euthanize escaped or deserted domestic sheep in order to safeguard wild sheep populations. This alteration in the classification of domestic sheep under the Wildlife Act aims to prevent the potential transmission of diseases that could result in significant deaths among wild herds. Domestic and wild sheep are susceptible to similar infectious agents, although their immune responses and disease resistance capabilities vary. One such bacterium, M. ovi or Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, is prevalent in domestic sheep and goats, typically causing no harm, yet potentially fatal pneumonia in wild sheep.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, M. ovi can be transmitted through shared grazing areas, water sources, or salt licks, spreading rapidly once introduced to wild populations. The regulatory adjustments now deem abandoning sheep on Crown land as an offense and empower the ministry to take ownership of such animals.
