Fisheries Bootleggers and Baptists in ‘Yellowstone’ Many environmental lawsuits are not intended to help the environment, habitat, or wildlife
Conservation Gulleys for Grassland Restoration: #7 Best Equipment When we divert rainstorm runoff from eroding gulleys to restore desertifying canyons and grasslands, what are the best equipment & practices? Our conclusions might surprise you. NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on September 4th, 2017
American Prairie Reserve Nature Reserve Buys Ranch, Grows to More than 700 Square Miles According to the article below, the American Prairie Reserve has plans to assemble millions of acres of adjoining public and private lands to create a vast wildlife preserve. As further explained, many traditional ranchers see this as a threat to their way of life. NOTE: this article was originally published
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 2/22/2022 Articles Here is an excellent explanation of Western water rights, especially those of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Utah. Quoting the article, “While it is true that Montana is less heavily regulated than California, it is hardly the Wild West when it comes to natural resources like water. In Montana and
habitat restoration Whose River Runs Through It? “Western rivers access and fishing rights are discussed in this excellent article from PERC. NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.com’s Winter 2021 Newsletter (Volume 40). It was written by James Huffman. How stream access laws affect recreation and conservation This special edition of PERC Reports uses
Bio-Diversity Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #9: Harvesting Water in Steep Canyons Restoring the Southwest’s desert grasslands takes water. Most ranches treat eroding gulleys and roads – and their stormwater runoffs – as liabilities. In fact these are potential water assets on every ranch. This little diversion dam harvests water from a steep desert canyon and returns it to water-starved meadows, restoring upstream
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 2/15/2022 Articles Quoting the article above, “Buying a house in cattle country and complaining about cattle is like buying a house in a nudist colony and complaining that people don’t wear clothes.” After a decade, scientists are getting close to bringing back the massive wild cattle. Videos Young fox kits
Cattle ‘Oh, I’ll Keep ‘em Out’ Quoting the article below, “Buying a house in cattle country and complaining about cattle is like buying a house in a nudist colony and complaining that people don’t wear clothes.” NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.com’s Winter 2021 Newsletter (Volume 40). It was written by
"Invasion Biology" The Once-Extinct Aurochs May Soon Roam Europe Again According to the article below, restoring large wild grazers like bison and aurochs (wild giant cattle) will enhance the health of European forests. Quoting the authors, “By disrupting forest growth, these mammals created varied terrain, all the while fertilizing the ground and distributing seeds with their droppings. The natural disturbance
"Invasion Biology" Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #5: Upper Pennel Canyon at Circle Ranch Using a mountain gulley for erosion control and desert grassland restoration at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on August 14, 2017. This little dam took 45-minutes to build.
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 Media elites ignore the heartland-themed show, and the real issues behind it, at their own peril.
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
