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In Nevada the prevailing method of handling sheep, especially in the 

 spring of the year, is to establish a main camp from which the sheep 

 are grazed daily until all the feed in the immediate vicinity of the 

 camp has been eaten out to a distance of two or three miles in every 

 direction. This requires long daily drives back and forth in order to 

 get away from range that has already been grazed. Thus the sheep trail 

 over the same ground each day, until all the forage on the range around 

 the bed-ground has been completely eaten off. 



This method of handling can only result in all the plants being eaten, 

 whether poisonous or not ; for the most attractive ones are first grazed, 

 and when these are gone the less palatable ones are left to be eaten, 

 including, of course, the death camas. 



In order to avoid the losses which result from such improper methods 

 of handling sheep, they should be allowed to bed down wherever they 

 happen to be when night comes. They will then always be on fresh 

 feed in the morning. The variety of forage from which to choose will 

 be much greater; and the probability of poisoning will be far less; 

 providing, of course, that the animals are gotten off the bed-ground 

 early in the morning and are allowed to spread out and graze openly 

 and quietly, each ewe with her lamb. Close-bunched grazing, running, 

 trailing, and massing should be avoided ; not only to reduce losses from 

 poisonous plants, but also for the good of the ewe and her lamb, and 

 for the most full and effective use of the range forage. 



Remedies for Death Camas Poisoning. 



For animals poisoned by death camas there is known at present no 

 practical remedy. The best treatment is to let the poisoned animals 

 entirely alone, disturbing them only when it is absolutely necessary. 

 After an animal has been poisoned it is very much weakened and 

 should be given all the care that is practicable on the range. If it can 

 be kept on good feed and driven just as little as possible for the first 

 two or three days, it will often recover rapidly. 



