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This week's Restoring Biodiversity explores the growing connection between wildfire resilience and the ecological role of large herbivores. Featured articles examine proposals to use federally managed wild horses to reduce wildfire fuels, the consequences of losing native grazers such as deer and wild horses from western landscapes, and the importance of shifting wildfire strategy from suppression to prevention. The edition also highlights National Geographic features on helping bees cope with extreme heat and documenting the recent total solar eclipse, along with an Outside article examining the world's eight bear species through the perspective of a wildlife biologist

Here is what we’ve been reading, watching and writing about over the past week…

Articles

The Fires of Corruption

Is America fighting wildfires instead of preventing them? This article argues that America's wildfire policies have become structurally dependent on suppression rather than prevention, while simultaneously criticizing the Bureau of Land Management's long-standing approach to wild horse management. It contends that reducing wild horse populations, maintaining low herd sizes, and relying on prescribed burns instead of year-round natural grazing have increased fine-fuel accumulation and contributed to larger, more destructive wildfires. Drawing on scientific literature, federal budget data, and examples from recent fires, the author calls for a fundamental shift toward restoring wild horses as ecological fuel managers and aligning federal land management with what he describes as evidence-based wildfire prevention.

More here ->

Idaho Trail Camera Photos Reveal the Wildlife of 15 Million Acres of Wilderness

Every now and then our trail cameras remind us just how fortunate we are. Because Pitchstone Waters Ranch borders nearly 15 million acres of protected wilderness, it's not unusual to capture mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, moose, and black bears passing through. 

We also share this landscape with grizzly bears and wolves—a reminder that truly wild places still exist in North America.

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Houston-Davis Proposal – Free-Ranging Elk Reclassification Effort

This was sent to us this past week, detailing a formal effort to reclassify free-ranging Rocky Mountain elk as a native game animal in Texas. The attached proposal (the Houston-Davis Proposal) would "restore managed status — seasons and bag limits — for free-ranging elk while fully protecting high-fence commercial operations through a clear dual framework."

More here ->

Videos

Cattle Shortage Driving Beef Prices Higher

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins argues that today's cattle shortage is the result of policies implemented by the previous administration, describing them as a "war on cattle." She says those policies contributed to reduced cattle inventories and higher beef prices. Rollins also credits President Trump with reversing that trend, stating that U.S. cattle numbers are now increasing for the first time since 2018

More here ->

What We've Been Reading

The Amazon’s Trees May Be Reaching a Dangerous Tipping Point — National Geographic

Over the past 40 years, the same Amazon trees growing in Peru have started growing thinner, flimsier leaves. Scientists worry they’re being pushed to the brink.

How to See Pacific Salmon Make Their Epic Annual Migration — National Geographic

SalmonCam livestreams and national parks offer a front row seat to watch as millions of salmon leap upstream—avoiding the bears hoping to catch them midair.

The Sun’s Magnetic Field is Behaving Oddly. Astronomers Still Don’t Know Why. — National Geographic

Scientists say our star might be in a midlife crisis of sorts. What does that mean for life?

And that’s it - as always thank you..

If you haven’t already - please check out our views on biodiversity at https://pitchstonewaters.com