Pitchstone Waters (Page 71)

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circle_ranch_west_texas_ram_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Animal and Plant Biodiversity Restoring Desert Habitats at Circle Ranch

A basic doctrine of wildlife “management” is that nature is under attack by thousands of “invasive” plant and animal species which “compete” with “natives” to “harm ecosystem health.” Analysis of the knowledge supporting this ideology exposes invasive species biology as pseudo-science: biological bigotry, dignified with empirically-hollow buzzwords. Efforts to eradicate

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Response Highlights Texas’ Claim to Own Deer, Even Captive Ones

"Invasion Biology"

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Response Highlights Texas’ Claim to Own Deer, Even Captive Ones

Texas’ deer policy suffers from a bad case of schizophrenia: deer belong to the public but can be treated like livestock. Small wonder deer breeders think they own “their” deer. In 1975 Al Brothers and Murphy Ray published Producing Quality Whitetails, showing how landowners might selectively harvest deer to produce

deer_wasting_forum

TPWD's Chronic Wasting Disease Plan Will be Aired Across Texas

Like its cousin Mad Cow Disease, CWD was started and spread by the confinement of animals in feedlot conditions, part of the larger body of industrial agriculture practices which are a growing part of wildlife “management”. These include artificial feed and supplements of minerals, hormones, antibiotics and other additives. This

WolfRunningInSnow

Animal Development

How a Wolf Named Romeo Won Hearts in an Alaska Suburb

It seems that the question about which animals merit our highest standard of care and consideration—or at least a no-kill approach—often turns on intelligence. The “dumb beast” is clearly least like us. I find what sparks my sense of simpatico, though, is not necessarily sharp intelligence, but basic

A Lesson for Wildlife "Management”: The Rise of the Medical Bureaucrat and Centralized Health Care

A Lesson for Wildlife "Management”: The Rise of the Medical Bureaucrat and Centralized Health Care

The rise of the medical bureaucracy has harmed health care by reducing the role of doctors in health care decisions. The wildlife parallel is that the ever-expanding role of the agribusiness monopolies, agencies, universities and NGOs, has usurped the historic role of ranchers and farmers, and displaced their traditional methods

state_of_texas_culls_35_deer

"Invasion Biology"

State Culls 35 Deer From Area Ranch to Test For Chronic Wasting Disease

The dirty little secret of Chronic Wasting Disease is that it was created in a government-funded Colorado wildlife experimental facility: the Front Range Experimental Station in Fort Collins Colorado. While there is collective amnesia about what was being done to these confined animals, there is no doubt this is where

Should Washington End Agriculture Subsidies?

Should Washington End Agriculture Subsidies?

Agricultural subsidies fundamentally disrupt the economics of farming and ranching, making both unprofitable, leading to monopolies and harming the environment. Eliminating them would be the cheapest and quickest environmental & wildlife measure possible. NOTE: post originally appeared on WSJ.com July 12, 2015 The U.S. government has been protecting

They Brought Wolves to Yellowstone But Had No Idea This Would Be The Result

"Invasion Biology"

They Brought Wolves to Yellowstone But Had No Idea This Would Be The Result

Predators including wolves are important to habitat because they influence animal behavior in ways that benefit plants. Predator eradications always harm habitat and the animals the eradications are intended to help. Cattlemen and conservations alike should take note. NOTE: post originally appeared on TheShrug.net on May 19, 2015 After

CWD Detected In Captive Deer Breeding Facility Near Medina

Animal Development

CWD Detected In Captive Deer Breeding Facility Near Medina

This was bound to happen as wildlife “management” increasingly copies the confinement methods of industrial agriculture. AUSTIN —(TAHC)— A two year-old white-tailed deer in a Medina County deer breeding facility has been confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease. This is the first case of CWD detected in captive white-tailed deer

Spraying-Pesticides

"Invasion Biology"

Bees' Decline Linked to Poisons

When “managing” wildlife and habitat, it is useful to think of plants, animals and soil life as a single organism. Whatever hurts any part of this organism, harms the organism as a whole. NOTE: this article originally appeared on WSJ.com May 26th EU to Revisit Question of Insecticides’ Responsibility

A Sharp Spike in Honeybee Deaths Deepens a Worrisome Trend

"Invasion Biology"

A Sharp Spike in Honeybee Deaths Deepens a Worrisome Trend

Yet another example of the damage being done to biodiversity, in this case insects, by the chemicals used in our industrial agriculture. This is germane to wildlife and habitat. NOTE: this article originally appeared on NYTimes.com on May 13th, 2015 A prolonged and mysterious die-off of the nation’s

"Invasion Biology"

Cows Can Save the World

I write to offer a constructive way forward in the tragic cultural genocide unfolding in America’s wonderful western ranching culture that is embedded in the nation’s culture. I do so knowing the risk of trying to help a lion by operating on a back molar in its jaw.

aerial_spraying_columbia

Columbia Halts Spraying to Prevent Cancer

The World Health Organization: “Roundup Causes Cancer”. EPA: “Roundup is Safe as Aspirin”. The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, like the conglomerates that own them, remain in lockstep with the major US agencies, universities and agrochemical giants in saying that Roundup and the witches’ brew of toxic

how Holistic Management is beginning to spread in Chihuahua.

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Grasslands Restoration: Manejo Holistico in Chihuahua - Las Damas Ranch

At Circle Ranch, holistic planned grazing of herds including the one above has been very beneficial to wildlife and habitat. Planned grazing is increasingly used in northern Chihuahua, as described below. NOTE: this post has been re-published with permission of the author and HMI – after originally appearing in HMI’s

west_texas_thunderstorm_circle_ranch

Erosion Control

Notable & Quotable: John Steinbeck on Dry Years and Wet Years

‘But there were dry years too, and they put a terror on the valley.’ John Steinbeck was of a generation that lived close to the land. Grapes of Wrath, and The Red Pony reveal his farmer’s insight. Writing about California’s Salinas Valley, where he grew up, in the

circle-ranch-texas-cattle-herding

Livestock Management for Coexistence with Large Carnivores, Healthy Land and Productive Ranches

Experience is proving that when cattle are run in large herds they are less susceptible to predation, especially from smaller predators like coyotes and Mexican Wolves. LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT FOR COEXISTENCE WITH LARGE CARNIVORES, HEALTHY LAND AND PRODUCTIVE RANCHES A white paper by Matt Barnes, Field Director for Rangeland Stewardship Keystone

Mexican_Wolf_feature

Animal Development

Returning the Wolf to Texas

The Mexican Wolf would be highly beneficial to West Texas wildlife, habitats, and cattle raising. NOTE: Post Originally Appeared on Rick Libello’s site on March 14, 2015 Less than a 100 yards from my office at the El Paso Zoo every day I am reminded of one of the

circle_ranch_game_cameras_west_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Habitat Restoration: Opposing Assumptions about Wildlife Biodiversity

Pictured below are 10 species of animals photographed in our mountains at Circle Ranch during Spring 2015. Conventional wildlife “management” says six of these species should be removed as they are assumed to “harm” desert bighorn sheep, desert mule deer, pronghorn and their habitat. CLICK HERE FOR 75 PHOTOS: Diablo

circle-ranch-video-game-cameras

Animal Development

Pronghorn, Desert Bighorn & Lambs at Circle Ranch in Spring 2015

Three short videos of pronghorn and bighorn taken late winter and early spring 2015. We have lots of both. Mother bighorn and last year’s lamb. Pronghorn herd gathering at water. Bighorn ewes and lamb. Circle Ranch’s recipe for abundant pronghorn and bighorn: 1. Encourage animal biodiversity. 2. Periodically,

circle_ranch_cats_feature

"Invasion Biology"

2.7 Million Creatures Killed Last Year in U.S.'s Secretive War on Animals

Publicly-funded wildlife eradications are a big surprise to many people. NOTE:orginially appeared on TheDodo.com Nearly 7,400 wild animals were slaughtered every single day on average across the U.S. last year — not by hunters or poachers, but by a government agency whose stated mission is “to resolve

circle_ranch_defending_beef_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Defending Beef—The Case for Sustainable Meat Production

This is the best and easiest-to-understand book about why sustainable ranching is necessary for a healthy environment. It is a must-read for every landowner, rancher, wildlife manager, conservationist, wild horse advocate, hunter, wildlifer, and consumer. Defending Beef—The Case for Sustainable Meat Production. The Manifesto of an Environmental Lawyer and

CKI Studies Scaled Quail Decline

"Invasion Biology"

CKI Studies Scaled Quail Decline

This study of blue (scaled) quail decline, conducted by the Caesar Kleberg Institute, finds that brush removal, monocultures of non-native grasses and cattle removal cause blue quail numbers to fall. The prescriptions would seem obvious: graze cattle in ways that help plants, preserve brush, and get lots of weeds growing

Spraying-Pesticides

"Invasion Biology"

Glyphosate Is Anything But Safe

Under our industrial agricultural methods, virtually all of our major crops are being grown with GMO seeds designed to withstand glyphosate, more commonly known by its trade name Roundup®. Seeds are planted. After they sprout, the fields are poisoned, up to three different times, to kill all weeds. This poison

crillo-cattle-high-country-news-feature

Animal Development

Steak Wars: The Desert-Friendly Cow

This New Mexico rancher is fighting the perception that only British breeds produce great beef. By Cally Carswell, High Country News Alfredo Gonzalez manages a modest herd of 200 beef cows on the Jornada Experimental Range, near Las Cruces, New Mexico, where grass is scarce, and water scarcer. Occasionally, he

monarch-victim-herbicide-circle-ranch

"Invasion Biology"

Crop Herbicides Play a Role in Shrinking Monarch Population

A kaleidoscope of monarch butterflies hangs from a tree branch in the Piedra Herrada sanctuary near Valle de Bravo, Mexico. Photo: Rebecca Blackwell /Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A butterfly being considered for federal protection is emblematic of the plight that pollinating insects face in part because farmers, enticed by