Idaho State Journal from Pocatello, Idaho • Page 9

SHEEPMEN, ECOLOGISTS LIKE IDEA Proposes to Make Coyotes Hate Sheep A. 4k TM GETTING COYOTES TO HATE SHEEP Carl Gustavson, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Utah, has devised a plan to convince coyotes they don't like the taste of sheep. Both the Sierra Club and the Wool Growers Association, antagonists in the coyote-poisoning controversy, support the idea. (AP Wirephoto) Man Shoots Wife, Then Kills Himself BILLINGS, Mont (AP) A Billings man shot his estranged wife five times Saturday afternoon, then turned the weapon on himself with fatal results, police said. Michael James Healy, 31, was dead on arrival at a Billings hospital.

He died of one magnum bullet in the head. His wife, Jeanete Healy, 32, was in serious condition Saturday night at a Billings hospital after several hours in surgery. Lt. Jerry Dell of the citycounty detective division said the shootings took place at Mrs. Healy's residence.

The couple had lived there until separation last year. Healy's body was found just inside the front door, Dell said. A babysitter told police Healy broke into the home once Saturday morning, while she was caring for the children. She said he damaged the door on entry. Dell said Healy returned again after Mrs.

Healy had returned to the house. A neighbor reported the incident after hearing the shots. Mrs. Healy was shot in the chest and abdomen, he said. The couple's children are five and nine years old.

'Doomed 7 Projects Granted New Life SALT LAKE CITY (API-Release of impounded federal funds to the Intermountain Regional Medical Program has been made under a court order and gives new life to projects that had been feared doomed, an official of the program says. Some of the program's current projects are paramedic training, a new rural health care delivery system, chronic respiratory disease detection and education and the Poison Control Center. Dr. Ward B. Studt, executive director of the Salt Lake City- based medical program, said in a news release received today: "In compliance with a court order, the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare has released impounded funds to the Intermountain Regional Medical Program, and has removed all restrictions imposed in connection with the impoundment.

"The court ruling insures IRMP funding through July of 1975 and gives new life to a number of important projects we thought were doomed," said Studt. The 6-year-old, federally funded program is exclusively concerned with improving health care in the Intermountain region, the news release said. Sen. Moss Wonts Probe Of Nixon's Legal Costs SALT LAKE CITY (AP)-Sen. Frank E.

Moss says he has asked the comptroller general for an investigation to determine how much it's costing the public to handle President Nixon's responses to Watergate related matters. "Substantial sums of public funds are being expended by the White House to pay the costs of the President's legal defense for charges arising out of the Watergate break-in and coverup, the handling of the President's income taxes and other matters," the Utah Democrat said in a statement released Friday by his Utah office. Moss said he wants to know if the expenditures are legal. "In addition to using the resources of the Department of Justice, the President has assembled in the White House a defense team comprised of outside attorneys hired at public expense. "1 would like the General Accounting Office to determine the amounts of public monies being expended for the President's defense, and an opinion of the legal basis for such expenditures." Moss said.

Proposed Cache Valley Mall Lining Up Tenants LOGAN, Utah (AP)-The developers of a proposed shopping mall in Cache Valley say they have had inquiries from businesses about leasing space in the facility, despite opposition from downtown Logan m- Body Recovered RIGG INS, Idaho A I body of a 45-year-old Riggras man whose pickup truck had been found Jan. 23 has been taken from the Salmon River. Idaho County Deputy Edgar Metcalf said the body of Ralpn W. Thomas was found March li west of Slate Creek off Idaho to about six miles from here his Dickup had been found. Metcalf said Thomas apparently went to sleep, his truck smashed through the windshield into the river terests.

A spokesman for John Price Associatiates, a Salt Lake City firm which is developing the enclosed mall, said two "major tenants" have already signed up. Opponents to the mall say it would lead to the deterioration of downtown Logan by luring shoppers away. Gary Median, vice president of the development firm, said developers want the mall to be an "extension of Main Street." He said more than 20 per cent of the consumer dollar in Cache Couny is spent outside the valley. The mall, scheduled for completion in 1976, is to house three department stores, a bank, a supermarket and dozens of small businestes, the developers Mid. SALT LAKE CITY (API- Both sides in the controversy over whether to poison predators are expressing interest in a new concept--convincing coyotes they can't stand the taste of sheep.

Carl Gustavson. a "behavioral ecologist" at the University of Utah, proposes feeding coyotes a package of mutton treated with a nonletbal chemical, lithium chloride, and covered with wool. The coyote eating the package would get sick and learn to despise the taste and smell of the wool and sheep meat. The conditioning package would be left in sheep grazing areas in much the same way as meat with lethal poison would be distributed to kill coyoies. The federal ban on use of lethal poisons triggered the controversy.

Sheepmen say they are losing thousands of head of livestock to increasing numbers of coyotes, although conservation groups contend the loss claims are exaggerated. But spokesman for two antagonists in this controversy-the Wool Growers Association and the Sierra Club--both support Gustavson's idea. Marcellus Palmer, executive secretary of the Utah Wool Growers Association, says he supplied most of the sheep for Gustavson's experiments. Gustavson, 27, tried the plan on seven coyoies as research for his doctoral dissertation at the university's psychology department. "We arc wondering how we can further help him," says Palmer.

Palmer said there is no question that the lithium chloride will work. But the key questions are reaching and thus conditioning the coyotes with the chemical and whether con- ditioned mother coyotes will pass dislike for sheep along to their litters. David C. Raskin, a psychology professor at Utah and a leader of the Uintah chapter of the Sierra Club, says, "II seems to me that it would solve everybody's problem." Since February when the federal government banned use of two poisons and a poison-explotlve used extensively against coyotes, sheepmen have been seeking new ways to fight the animal they say account for substantial killings of sheep. Gustavson's experiments covered periods of up to three months.

Coyotes were given packages of mutton and woo! treated with lithium chloride. The packages mace the coyotes sick and they vomited. But when a lamb was later put near them in a pen, they would not kill it. One ran toward the lamb a't full attack speed, but skidded to a halt when it got a few inches away. Another grabbed the lamb's neck, the usual kill point, but immediately let go and fled when it tasted the wool.

Similar reactions were observed with rabbits, another important coyote food, when they were treated with lithium chloride. The inexpensive chemical tastes much like table sal! and so does not give meat a foreign flavor. Although spokesmen for both the Sierra Club and Utah Wool Growers Association say they arc Impressed by results of the experiments, they say more tests are needed. "It needs to be taken into the field, particularly to determine if the mother coyote can pass along the dislike to her young," said Palmer. He said other problems are that it would be expensive to IDAHO JOURNAL NEWS OF EASTERN IDAHO AND THE STATE Stction Page 1 MONDAY, MARCH 25, W4 Costly Beef This youngster is believed to be the first purebred Simmental bull calf born in Montana.

It arrived in Lewistown, earlier this month. The mother recently was purhased for $62,000 byt a group of five Montana ranchers. The Buyll calf reportedly will be valued at between $50,000 and $100,000 when it reaches adult age and is able to sire offspring. (AP Wirephoto) By MARIANNE HANSEN Journal Correspondent SODA SPRINGS Soda Springs Chief of Police Blynn Wilcox has announced the appointment of Cecil Roderick as city dog catcher. Roderick and his wife, Wanda, manage the Caribou Lodge in Soda Springs.

It seems that Roderick is Soda's answer to the dog problem. Since he started patroling, approximatley 30 tickets have been issued and about four dogs impounded. One irate citizen complained that he had received two tickets for the same dog in one day a second before he had a chance to pay the first one while his dog was still running loose. Another dog owner was issued two tickets, one for each of her Chance of Liability Suits Worries IHD BOISE(AP)-The potential for liability suits against Idaho has been cited for possible non- location of traffic signals at various interesections by the Idaho Highway Department. "The Idaho Code requires that established standards be followed when installing traffic the department said in a report to commuinity officials and the media regarding the denial of signal requests.

"Failure to follow these standards will increase the potential for liability suits against the state." Traffic signals are installed in the state highway system when certain minimum traffic volume conditions are met, according to highway officials. These minimum volume requirements are established urformly or, a national basis and are based on many years of experience in operating traffic signal systems. "It has been found that premature signal installations usually result in more vehicle delay at an intersection and frequently cause more accidents than other methods of intersection control," the department said. "Therefore, the justification for traffic signal installation is based upon a background of facts, studies, and experience In vehicle operations not only in Idaho but nationwide. The Idaho Code requires the department to adopt minimum standards for traffic control devices not only on the state highway system, but also on city streets and county roads.

"Any variation from the accepted standards could make not only the state but also local units of government subject to liability claims in case of accidents," a department report said. "Highway personnel are not being arbitrary when they have to decline requests for traffic signal instillations." In many cases, the department reported, other methods of traffic control may more appropriate and provide better operations and safety than a traffic signal. dogs on the run. A comment was made that more dogs are chained up now and fewer dogs are running loose this last week. One citation was Issued for a dog carrying an old deer hide from place to place and leaving "souvenirs" as he went.

According to the city code, "It is unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor any dog within the city limits without paying a license fee. The fee is S3 for each male dog, $5 for each female dog, and $3 for each spayed female dog, provided the owner can present a certificate from a licensed veterinarian that said dog is a spayed female. "Dogs not licensed and collared are declared to be a public nuisance, and they can be impounded for 72 hours. At any time during the 72 hours, the owner may claim the dog and pay an additional fee of $2.50. At the expiration uf 72 hours after impounding a dog, the agent is authorized to sell such dog to any person not the owner at the best price obtainable, and if this not done, the dog shall be disposed of in a humane and lawful manner.

"If a dog has a license and the owner has been notified, the dog is kept for five days." Roderick has authorization to seize and impound any dog found to be running at large in violation of rules and he will notify, or have the Police Department notify in writing of the seizure within 48 hours, any person found guilty of violation shall be fined $5 for the first offense, $10 for the second offense and $15 for the third offense occurring within a 12- month period. Roderick can also issue a citation to an owner of a dog that is chained up but not licensed. Deer in Should place a lol of packagei. and might eventually forget their dislike for the Uite of iheep. Gustavson seeking for i three-year field test.

Fred Knowlton, leader of the predator, ecology and behavior project of the federal Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife at Utah State University, said the bureau may help fund Gusiavson's project. He said the project has some potential, but he does not think it is the entire answer because of the problem of getting (he bait to the coyote and getting him to eat it. Knowlton said electric fencing, coyote repellanU and cyanide collars are also being experimented with. Congress appropriated $1.1 million for predator research in fiscal 1974 and the Department of Agriculture at least 1100,003 more, he said. Gustavson, who says he would rather be called a "behavioral ecologist" or "psyctoblologist" than a psychologist, is working to iron out some of the problems he found in his research.

"Mother Nature built into coyotes and other mammals a trick so they can learn to avoid poison food," he said. "We're using Mother Nature against herself." Gustavson says previous research has shown that if animals "are fed a distinct flavor and then made ill with a nonle- thai toxin, they will develop an aversion for that flavor." He said he took up the project because it seemed like "a classic case for a psychologist looking into modification of behavior." But he said he's also an "eco-freak" and thinks sheep are ecologically sound. "Out here on the Western desert. I'd rather see sheep than a nylon factory," he says. Garden Valley be Well Fed GARDEN VALLEY, Idaho Deer" day planted 15,000 bitter(AP)-Deer which have nearly brush plants In addition to starved in the Garden Valley sagebrush, buckbruah, bitter area the past few winters should cherries and chokecherries.

All be well fed in the future, are deer delicacies, following the efforts of 300 vol- Deer in the area have come uunteers Saturday. close to starving because of a Those attending a "Save the critical lack of browse, the term Arson Considered As Cause of Fires NAMPA, Idaho (AP) Two early morning fires Saturday which caused $400,000 damage may have been arson-caused to cover up burglaries, police said. Flames destroyed a central structure of the Nampa Cider and Vinegar Co. and two produce warehouses of the Henry Ankeny Co. The blazes occurred across (won from each other.

The first, at the cider company, was reported at 4:40 a.m., the second at 5:50 a.m. Authorities said there was no definite evidence to support the arson theory. However, the fact there "definitely" were burglaries and fires at both locations make arson a strong possibility, police said. A service door on the east center side of one warehouse at the elder plant was found open with possible pry-bar marks, Canyon County sheriff! deputies said. That would indicate someone could have forced it open and ignited packing crates, they said.

Tools normally located on walls Inside the Ankeny building were found in a tool box 12 feet from the door, adding to the theory of burglary-arson at that facility. The main building housing pressing and rendering equipment and vats of vinegar were nearly destroyed and the warehouse partly burned at the Nampa Cider and Vinegar Co. Flames started at the Ankeny plant In a structure and spread to a larger building. referring to plants they feed on. "They were eating ponderosa pine seedlings, end when they get down to that you know they're hurting," said Jim Graban, an Idaho Fish and Game wildlife specialist.

The valley has historically offered little browse for animals that winter there, Graban said Each year the food supply has declined, reaching a critical level last winter, he said. The group planting the browse was composed of boy scouts from the Emmett area, a church group, the Emmett "Four-Wheelers," Boise Cascade employes from Emmett, College of Idaho students and Emmett Kiwanians. "It was quite a sight," Graban said. "Here is this big, bald hillside and people all over the place. There wdre people packing trees and shovels everywhere you looked." At least 40 acres three miles east of the graden valley ranger station on carpenter creek were planted Saturday, he said.

The U.S. Forest Service and Fish and Game Department supplied the plants used in the one-day operation. They were raised in the forest service nursery at Lucky Peak near Boise. Officials Coll Off Secretary Quits Search for Airplane Roderick Looks Like Answer To Soda's Dog Difficulties CASCADE (AP) Search efforts for an airplane thought downed In the mountains south of here have been called off, according to the Valley County sheriff's office. Search operations had begun earlv Thursday after two Caldwell, citizens band radio operators reported picking up faint distress signals from a plane supposedly down near Cougar Mountain Lodge along Girl in Fair Condition After Wreck BLACKFOOT Pamela Miller, 18, of 241 East Alice, is in fair condition at Bingham Memorial Hospital following an automobile accident five miles north of here at midnight Friday.

Miss Miller was injured and her car demolished in a rollover at the intersection of McDonaldville and Rose roads. A passenger, Annette Corbeil, 18, treated for minor injuries. The Bingham sheriff's department is investigating. A Blackfoot child was injured Saturday morning 'in Lansing Street, when she ran in front of a pickup truck driven by Kathy Rsymond. Kellie Sue Burgette, 4, daughter of Mrs.

Florence Burgette, was taken to Bingham memorial with cuts and bruses, and later relesed. Girl Killed BURLEY, Idaho (AP)-A 5- year-old girl rode her bicycle into the street near her home Saturday and was struck and killed by a car, a Cassia County deputy said. The victim was Cathy Turner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary L.

Turner, Burley. Deputy Don Green said the child rode her bicycle onto the road from a private driveway. Ke said she was hit by the car, thrown onto the hood and carried about 60 feet. Coroner Bruce Young said there would be no inquest. Idaho 55.

Other reports including a sighting by a Donnally rancher of a a i low and sounding as if it were in trouble spurred the search efforts. A smoke column was lighted Friday morning in the area and radio operators reported more distress signals Thursday night. Sheriff's deputies said Monday morning the search was officially ended late Sunday but that some snowmobile volunteers were continuing to search. This efforet was expected to early Monday, however, as snowmobilers head back to work. CALDWELL (AP) The executive secretary of the Western Charolais Association has resinned his position.

Si Williams quit the post he had held since the association was founded 10 years ago. The WCA is the largest area affiliate of the American-International Charolais Association and covers nine western states, British Columbia and Alberta. Williams cited a desire for more leisure lime and lessening of detail responsibilities for the decision. The WCA board appointed Mrs. Larry Pearson, secretary to Williams the past six years, to the new post of recording secretary.

THE WAY IT IS Women in fhe Posf By RICHARD LAKE Esther suggests that women should run the Post Office. This never would have occurred to me, since I believe men should manage everything. However, like any man in the face of a superior argument, 1 give up without a struggle. The argument makes good sense. Women are more efficient than men.

With all women employees in the P. 0., you would have the mail sorted and delivered on time. They wouldn't feei overwhelmed as men do, and give up the fight. Women would have little contests blossoming all through the system. Get it all sorted by a certain hour, and you will earn time off to go to the hairdresser.

Mail-carriers, think how many women's schemes and hopes are with this mail. Also, women are more frugal. You wouldn't have 1.0-cent stamps and other rising postage costs. Women would pass the word to other women, who would call congressmen on the telephone, and teli them to cut out that foolishness. There would be all sorts of improvements.

Special delivery letters might cotne with a singing announcement, and likely tied with a ribbon. If there was postage due, the lady carrier would give you some chatty advice and a smile. The daily mail-delivery might become the brightest hour of the day. A nice-looking carrier, in a snappy uniform, would garnish the day's mail with a sprightly account of all the spicy goings-on along her route. She wouldn't miss a thing.

A good result of all this would be a vast increase in letter- writing. The increased volume would keep postal costs down. The new stamp issues would carry pictures of prominent and beautiful ladies. They would sell in the billions. The lady postmaster-general would insist that the President spruce up his cabinet meelings.

She would tell him to quit being so grouchy and wear a more attractive necktie. From there to foreign affaires, why not? Finally, think all the fun the lady mail-men would have In back rooms. They would be steaming open letters to find out what is really going on in this country. This would beat congressional investigations by a country.