BILLINGS, MT–Today the Helle and Rebish/Konen families are continuing their fight for the right to graze sheep in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Last year, the Gallatin Wildlife Association filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prohibit domestic sheep grazing on two allotments in the Gravelly Mountains of southwest Montana. The group alleges the Forest Service is violating the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the National Forest Management Act because the presence of domestic sheep is preventing the return of bighorn sheep to the area.
The lawyers for both sides will be giving their oral briefs in front of Judge Brian Morris today at 1 PM in Butte, MT. According to John Helle, a group of ranchers are again planning to attend in support of the sheep producers.
Click the Links below for a history of the Lawsuit:
Animal Activist Group Takes Aim at Montana Sheep Family
BILLINGS, MT–The Helle Family has been a cornerstone to the ranching community in Southwestern Montana for four generations. And through these past 40 plus years, this Dillon ranching family has utilized both private and public lands to run their livestock which is primarily sheep.
But now their long-time Forest Service grazing permits have come under attack by the Gallatin Wildlife Association, an environmental group located in Bozeman, MT.
Livestock Producers Travel Miles to Support Helle's in Grazing Lawsuit
Approximately 50 livestock producers showed up to support Helle and Rebish/Konen families at the hearing for a Preliminary Injunction at the Federal Courthouse in Great Falls, MT on Wednesday July 8, 2015. Woolgrowers and cattle producers from the Sweetgrass Hills on the Canadian Border and as far away as Dillon MT came to sit in the courtroom while the families fought to defend their 4th generation family business and livelihood. The Helle Family had filed to be interveners in the lawsuit filed by the Gallatin Wildlife Association (GWA) against the US Forest Service. GWA filed a Preliminary Injunction to stop grazing domestic sheep on two of the seven allotments in the Gravelly Mountains this summer claiming their members would suffer immediate and irreparable harm. These allotments have been in use by the Helle family for more than 60 years and historically for nearly 150 years.
The Injunction was Denied! – Northern Ag Network
A federal judge has denied an injunction filed by the Gallatin Wildlife Association to halt the Helle family from grazing sheep in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, claiming that it was harming the Big Horn sheep and Grizzly Bear populations.
The Judge's Comments on the Helle Verdict
A federal judge who denied the injunction filed by the Gallatin Wildlife Association to halt the Helle family from grazing sheep in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has issued a memorandum further explaining his decision.
According to the original court documents :
“Plaintiff has failed to persuade the Court at this point in the proceedings that a preliminary injunction should issue. Specifically, Plaintiff has failed to persuade the Court that it is likely to succeed on the merits and that it is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of injunctive relief. The question of the balance of the equities and whether an injunction would be in the public interest present questions that are to close to resolve at this stage of the proceedings. The Court will address all of Plaintiff’s claims on the merits in due course.”
Source: Helle Livestock and Northern Ag Network
© Northern Ag Network 2015
image used from the Helle Rambouillet website
