Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 2/8/2022 Articles “The more elk that live on private land, the more their populations grow.” Montana’s Paradise Valley is known to many as the home of rancher John Dutton in the hit television series “Yellowstone.” But for those of us who live in southwestern Montana, Paradise Valley is known for
Bio-Diversity Giving Greater Yellowstone’s Elk More Room to Roam Quoting the article below, “The more elk that live on private land, the more their populations grow.” NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.org on December 6, 2021. It was written by Shawn Regan. This special edition of PERC Reports uses the hit television show “Yellowstone’s” portrayals
Bio-Diversity Using an Eroded Gulley to Recreate a Wet Meadow This video, #8, is a companion piece to #3 in the series. It shows how Fred’s Dam works during a rain, how the redirected water has created a seasonal wet meadow, what is happening to the water as it exits the wet meadow, and how that water might be
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 2/1/2022 Articles As reported below, 98% of the animals in one of Wyoming’s deer herds have Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Infection rates like these will soon make Wyoming, Montana and Idaho the national leaders of the epidemic. Obvious ways to control CWD include stopping practices such as winter feeding that
Chronic Wasting Disease Scientists to Study ‘Walking-Dead’ Deer in Wyoming’s Most CWD-Infected Herd As reported below, 98% of the animals in one of Wyoming’s deer herds have Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Infection rates like these will soon make Wyoming, Montana and Idaho the national leaders of the epidemic. Obvious ways to control CWD include stopping practices such as winter feeding that everyone
"Invasion Biology" The Real-World Conflicts in Yellowstone Can Be Solved by Markets, Not Drama “Founded in 1980 by a handful of outdoor-oriented economists in Bozeman, Montana, PERC—the Property and Environment Research Center—is a conservation and research institute dedicated to free market environmentalism NOTE: this PERC article was originally published to Reason.com on January 22, 2022. It was written by Shawn Regan
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 1/25/2022 Articles Giant sturgeon, the only source of true caviar, were once abundant in America’s rivers. Two hundred years ago, the Hudson, Delaware and other eastern US rivers were the main suppliers of caviar for Europe. During those years, the Russian Czars maintained agents in New York to buy Hudson
biologists Culling Bucks for Genetic Improvement: Fact or Fallacy? As explained in the article below, deer culling does not improve deer genetics, therefore, it does not increase the antler size of the remaining bucks in the herd as many people believe—and desire. Stated differently, culling, the most-employed practice of deer “management” for the last 40 years not only
Bio-Diversity Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #4: Los Cuates Canyon at Circle Ranch Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #4: Los Cuates Canyon discusses specific gulley problems and treatments in a mountain canyon at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. It is one of a series that demonstrates how to remedy eroded roadbeds and gulleys: returning water to grasslands and plants, using natural rainfall to irrigate
Idaho fish Idaho Biologists Catch and Release Three 10-Foot, 500-Plus Pound Sturgeon Giant sturgeon, the only source of true caviar, were once abundant in America’s rivers. Two hundred years ago, the Hudson, Delaware and other eastern US rivers were the main suppliers of caviar for Europe. During those years, the Russian Czars maintained agents in New York to buy Hudson River
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 1/18/2022 Articles Grizzly bears are not “endangered” as that term is defined by the Endangered Species Act. But, because their restoration has been so successful, they are increasingly in danger from poachers and people who are afraid of them. Bears, including grizzlies, are smart. Moderate hunting makes them very wary of
Who’s Killing the Grizzly Bears of Fremont County? Grizzly bears are not “endangered” as that term is defined by the Endangered Species Act. But, because their restoration has been so successful, they are increasingly in danger from poachers and people who are afraid of them. Bears, including grizzlies, are smart. Moderate hunting makes them very wary of humans.
Cattle The Magic of Cow Manure Animal wastes from confinement feed operations, trapped in giant lagoons, are an environmental disaster. The putrid lagoons and manure piles are rightly criticized for pollution and increasing atmospheric methane. They also poison groundwater and streams and are often so fetid they make areas downwind uninhabitable. The dung and urine of
"Invasion Biology" Drought Busters 101 “Drought Busters” is an inexpensive, quick, physiologically and economically sustainable method of habitat and wildlife restoration. We call it Drought Busters because it increases effective rainfall by rebuilding soil fertility and the soil’s ability to absorb and store water. This video explains Drought Busters, and our experience on how
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 1/11/2021 Articles Animals are much smarter than most people realize and they share enormous group knowledge. Ranchers know their old cows teach the youngsters where to find feed, water, shade and shelter from bad weather. This, and much more, is true of wildlife. Wildlife “management” often ignores individual and group intelligence
Hunting A Review of Some Attacks on the Overkill Hypothesis with Special Attention to Misrepresentations and Doubletalk As discussed in the politically-incorrect paper below, the big animal extinctions in North America 10,000-years ago were caused more by human hunting than climate change. NOTE: this paper was originally published to Academia.edu on December 14, 2022. It was written by Gary Haynes. A review of some attacks
Bio-Diversity Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #3 Eroded galleys can be used to restore desertifying grasslands – alongside creosote bush – without chemicals. Third in a series filmed at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on July 24, 2017.
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 1/4/2021 Here is what we’ve been reading and writing about over the past two weeks.... Articles As reported and discussed below, there is breakthrough new science on the issue of wild horses. This is a big news because the assumption that wild horses and burros are “exotic” or “invasive” species
Archaeology Wild Horses ARE North American Natives As reported and discussed below, there is breakthrough new science on the issue of wild horses. This is big news because the assumption that wild horses and burros are “exotic” or “invasive” species has driven their mismanagement for the last 50 years. Those assumptions are used to justify the wildlife,
Bighorn Bighorn Sheep Migration Bighorn conservation must go far beyond locking people and their activities off of bighorn range. It is essential that wildlife, people and livelihoods be given equal weight in decisions such as those described in the video below. The primary harm people do to bighorn is caused by human hunting, physical
Bureau of Land Management US Vows to Improve Protections for Wild Horse Adoptions “As described below, the paralysis in resolving the wild horse problem continues. NOTE: this article was originally published to APNews.com on July 27, 2021. It was written by Scott Sonner. RENO, Nev. (AP) — U.S. officials who are trying to adopt out wild horses captured on public land say
Conservation Nevada Board Rejects Proposal to Ban Coyote Killing Contests The article below illustrates (1) the lack of understanding of the need for predators in our natural systems, and (2) why ethical hunting must always be an essential part of our outdoor pursuits. NOTE: this article was originally published to APNews.com on on November 6, 2021. RENO, Nev. (AP)
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 12/21/2021 Articles The authors observe that as climate changes, plants and animals move around. They say this is good, and natural. A discussion of wildlife-friendly fence regulations in Teton County Wyoming. Videos This GameKeeper Scope Film dives deep into the details of a 13 year long study by Texas Parks and
"Invasion Biology" Adjusting the Lens of Invasion Biology to Focus on the Impacts of Climate-driven Range Shifts The authors observe that as climate changes, plants and animals move around. They say this is good, and natural. NOTE: this paper was originally published to Nature.com on on November 14, 2021. It was written by Piper D. Wallingford, Toni Lyn Morelli, Jenica M. Allen, Evelyn M. Beaury, Dana
