Deuce 1 #1 June 20, 2003 Tragic. I'm sure you knew several of them personally. My sincere condolences ***News: Casper | Wyoming | National Hundreds of sheep die after eating toxic plants SODA SPRINGS, Idaho (AP) - More than 300 sheep grazing near a former phosphate mine died last month after eating plants contaminated with selenium, a waste product from mining. The sheep were part of a two-year study sponsored by the University of Idaho and the J.R. Simplot Co. to determine how animals react to selenium in the environment. They were grazing by the now-defunct Conda phosphate mine, which is owned by Simplot. Scientists blamed a plant called Curlycap Gumweed, which absorbs high levels of selenium from the soil. Selenium is a naturally occurring element that is toxic in high levels. Greg Moller, University of Idaho associate professor of environmental toxicology, said researchers did not anticipate the deaths. ''There's no doubt there's tragedy here. This was not planned,'' Moller said. Last summer, the research team gave 72 sheep varying levels of selenium in vegetation and water, and only one elderly sheep died, Moller said. They allowed the 1,400-animal band to graze in the mining area beginning May 19 this year. By May 25, the sheep began to die. Preliminary tests show the Curlycap Gumweed plants had selenium levels about 40 times the recommended maximum. Simplot spokesman Rick Phillips said researchers did not include the plant in their earlier tests. ''Gumweed wasn't even on the radar,'' Phillips said. The Conda mine was opened in 1906. Simplot bought the mine in the 1960s and closed it in the 1970s. Because mining guidelines were less stringent in the past, Phillips said, the contaminated soil is probably near the surface. Phillips said the research was a breakthrough. ''It's shocking to see so many sheep die, but we're learning so much more than we did before,'' Phillips said. The sheep owners will be reimbursed. In 2001, more than 150 sheep died from selenium poisoning in the Conda mine area. In 1996, horses in the region died from selenium poisoning.*** It's really too baaaaaaaad. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #2 June 20, 2003 POOR clay! lets all send him vibes! AND CLEENEX..b/c if you think a DEAD sheep will stop him you are SORELY mistakenMy photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vanillasky11 0 #3 June 20, 2003 QuoteIt's really too baaaaaaaad. LMFAO!! "You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky." -- Amelia Earhart Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deuce 1 #4 June 20, 2003 Ach, when I read it again it really wasn't that funny. Poisoning sheep to see how long they can take it before they die is really, really wrong. Even for Clay. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katiebear21 0 #5 June 20, 2003 Damn, I always miss the good ones! Katie Get your PMS glass necklace here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #6 June 21, 2003 You received a PM from Betsy, didn't you? Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katiebear21 0 #7 June 21, 2003 Gotta love a man with a conscious! Katie Get your PMS glass necklace here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #8 June 21, 2003 Quoteconscious! That's conscience. Sheesh, you'd think with all your free time over there you would atleast study your spelling words. Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katiebear21 0 #9 June 21, 2003 QuoteQuoteconscious! That's conscience. Sheesh, you'd think with all your free time over there you would atleast study your spelling words. Like Chuckie says, "I'm getting dumber everyday!" Katie Get your PMS glass necklace here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaGimp 0 #10 June 21, 2003 QuoteQuoteconscious! That's conscience. Sheesh, you'd think with all your free time over there you would atleast study your spelling words. Chris and shes an officer too so she HAS to have some college"Professor of Pimpology"~~~Bolas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
