U.S.-Shoshone Deal Ends Threat of Federal Roundup of Livestock

The Western Shoshone Nation and the federal government reached a compromise Tuesday, ending plans for a federal roundup this year of excess livestock around two Shoshone sisters’ remote ranch.

“The Bureau of Land Management and the Shoshone people have a common concern that the land be protected,” Western Shoshone National Council Chief Raymond Yowell said.

Yowell met with Nevada BLM Director Bill Templeton over the bureau’s insistence that sisters Mary and Carrie Dann trim their herd of more than 1,100 cattle and horses to fewer than 200.

While no numbers have been agreed to, both sides said the herd will be reduced between now and the beginning of next spring’s grazing season in March.

Templeton also said the Western Shoshone will be responsible for policing the amount of livestock on public land around the Dann ranch.

“I believe we can deal with the nation and achieve mutual goals,” he said.

The BLM had opened bids on Monday for a roundup of excess livestock if a compromise was not reached. The Dann sisters and other members of the Western Shoshone Nation had threatened to turn out in a show of civil disobedience if the BLM tried to round up the livestock.