"Invasion Biology" Legislation Reclassifying Elk as 'Exotic' Here is the legislation that changed Texas’ native elk from treasured, protected game animals to vermin that are shot on sight at all state-managed lands in far-West Texas. The legislative declaration that elk are not native is scientifically incorrect and meaningless. This legislation was introduced under the normal “radar,” declaring
Bio-Diversity Scant Oversight, Corporate Secrecy Preceded U.S. Weed Killer Crisis Collusion between regulators and the companies they are supposed to regulate is as pervasive in food production as in every industry where power and control is concentrated in a few hands. NOTE: This article was originally published to Reuters.com on August 9, 2017 NEW YORK (Reuters) – As the U.
Cattle Trump Picks Susan Combs For Interior Post A terrific choice for America, for Texas, and, for Western ranchers, wildlife & habitat. NOTE: This article initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on July 11, 2017 WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate former Texas Agriculture Commissioner and Comptroller Susan Combs to be assistant secretary of policy management
"Invasion Biology" Iowa State Fair Cow and Boy Taking Nap Wins the Internet After Photo Goes Viral This touching photo evokes the ancient connection between humans and livestock. Sadly, modern industrial agriculture – including much dairy and meat production – breaks this connection and increasingly disregards humane animal husbandry. NOTE: This post originally appeared on FOXNews.com on August 14, 2017 This here is a little story about a
"Invasion Biology" To Fight Climate Change, Heal the Ground Soil health and soil fertility should be the goal of every farmer and rancher. Imagine the changes in habitat and wildlife practices if every action and every inaction – such as using fertilizers and pesticides, or removing animals – were tested according to how that action would affect soil health and fertility.
Bio-Diversity Dying Vines: How Herbicides are Damaging, and Destroying, High Plains Vineyards That Supply Much of the Hill Country Grapes The agrochemical giants effectively control our agencies, legislatures, universities and conservation organizations. Their latest poison – which EPE rubber-stamped for general use – is 2,4-D, a primary component of Agent Orange, the infamous Vietnam poison. Agent Orange caused about 2-million birth defects in Cambodia and Vietnam. Over 60,000 American vets
Bio-Diversity TPWD Provides CWD Monitoring Results from 2016-2017 CWD could prove a disaster for far-West Texas mule deer and elk. High fences, artificial feeding and predator removals will accelerate the spread of CWD, as they have in South Texas. NOTE: This article was printed by Livestock Weekly and contributed to by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It is
"Invasion Biology" Gone With the Wind - Russian Thistle Thistle is a great rescue plant for desertified ranges. Quail love thistle seeds and the bugs it hosts, and many wild and domestic animals use it when it is young and tender. NOTE: This article appeared in the June 2017 edition of Texas Wildlife Magazine. The article is posted with
"Wolves" Re-wolving the West In far-West Texas as at Yellowstone National Park, it is a physiological fact that (Mexican) wolves would improve habitat for wild and domestic animals. But, community feelings towards wolves are very negative. NOTE: This article initially appeared on WSJ.com on May 12, 2017 Bringing back wild predators has provoked
"Invasion Biology" Allan Savory: How to Green the World's Deserts and Reverse Climate Change Desertification is a fancy word for land that is turning to desert,” begins Allan Savory in this quietly powerful talk (now viewed by 4-million). And terrifyingly, it’s happening to about two-thirds of the world’s grasslands, accelerating climate change and causing traditional grazing societies to descend into social chaos.
"Invasion Biology" Tanglehead in South Texas - Changes and Challenges The so-called “invasion” of Tanglehead grass is a symptom of cattle removals on South Texas rangeland. This excellent article contains insights and facts that point to this. The facts: * Tanglehead is a native grass. * Tanglehead was not ‘invasive’ so long as the ranges were being grazed. * With reduced grazing, it
book review Book Review: Baker Morrow - Best Plants for New Mexico Gardens and Landscapes It’s difficult to find good advice on suitable plants for the deserts of Northern Mexico, far-West Texas and New Mexico, because such advice is geographically generalized, which doesn’t address the actual situation in the desert. Within short distances in the desert, the temperature, rainfall and elevation can change
"Invasion Biology" Texas Approves Feral Hog Hunting by Hot Air Balloon Soon we will have tried every goofy way to control wild pig populations while ignoring the common sense solution: Gather and sell free range pigs into the commercial food chain, like back in the day. NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on May 25, 2017. Texas lawmakers have
Bio-Diversity Killing Cattle a Felony Under Texas Livestock Bill Awaiting Abbott’s Signature A very good law to defend stray livestock, including bison. NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on June 2, 2017 Careless hunters or trigger-happy gunslingers who kill Texas livestock …would no longer get a slap on the wrist under legislation awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature that would
Bighorn Wildlife Crossings Get a Whole New Look These structures can satisfy wildlife’s need to move across our Western ranges. They can also facilitate grazing. Both are needed for habitat restoration and wildlife conservation. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on June 20, 2017. Feature photo by Jeff Burrell/Wildlife Conservation Society Why did the
Conservation Oil Trends in Far-West Texas Mineral revenues can be very good for wildlife practices. NOTE: This article initially appeared at OilPrice.com on March 24, 2017 Shell’s New Permian Play Profitable At $20 A Barrel OPEC’s worries about the booming U.S. oil production have increased significantly with the big three oil companies’
Bio-Diversity The Dirty Little Secrets Behind Earthworms Earthworms are disappearing from our farm and range lands. Two articles on this topic appear below. #1: New York Times attributes this to plowing, but #2: Science shows glyphosate (Roundup) use associated with GMO’s and brush control is worse. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on June
Conservation A Reduction in US Drought Over the Period 1901-2014 Does global warming mean global drought? “It would appear that instead of making droughts worse, the global warming/climate change experienced over the past century appears to have ameliorated them.” NOTE: This paper was published on CO2Science.org on May 25, 2017 Paper Reviewed by McCabe, G.J., Wolock, D.
Bio-Diversity Best Tools for No-Till Farming These principals readily apply to ranching. Keeping desert rangeland covered with plants is the rancher’s most important challenge. NOTE: This post initially appeared on MotherEarthNews.com this month First, the bad news: We’ve lost millions of tons of soil from croplands in the United States annually for the
"Invasion Biology" TPWD Mule Deer Habitat Advice I was surprised to learn at a TPWD mule deer seminar that the way we graze cattle at Circle Ranch harms plants and water function. So I read all the studies on which these conclusions were based and found they did not study what they claimed to study. I wrote
Animal Development Foodies Can Order Meats From a Single Animal Consumer demand for wholesome food is the driving force behind sustainable food production. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on October 5, 2016 Throwback to getting your sirloin ground at the butcher shop emerges with ‘single origin’ cuts In grocery store cases stuffed with exotic grass-fed and organic
Animal Growth MDF / Lado Ranch Wildlife Water Project In far-West Texas water additions like these are the very best, cheapest and quickest wildlife practice. Free water hurts nothing and helps everything. VIEW ON FLICKR: April 29th, 2017 – Lado Ranch near Van Horn, Texas Funded by the Mule Deer Foundation On April 29th more than 30 volunteer conservationists from
Africa High Above, Drones Keep Watchful Eyes on Wildlife We have found drones to be a useful management tool. However the simplicity of drones is greatly overestimated, especially the notion of flying them by video monitor at great distances from the operator. NOTE: This article was originally published on NYTimes.com. Drones seemed like the perfect anti-poaching tools. But
"Invasion Biology" Reds on Shrimp, Gulls on Reds On May 21, 2011 we were fly fishing for redfish in the lower Laguna Madre. Here’s a wonderful photograph of a redfish pod feeding on shrimp, and gulls trailing the redfish to pick up their leavings. You might wonder why this picture has been entered on a blog dedicated
"Invasion Biology" Where's a Real Environmentalist When you Need One? Many of the strongest advocates for planned grazing of cattle and other domestic animals to maintain and restore habitat health – ourselves included – started out opposed to grazing, which the agencies and universities have taught 4-generations to believe is bad for plants and animals. NOTE: This post initially appeared in Range
