habitat restoration

A collection of 707 posts

Bio-Diversity

Sustainable Ranching in New Mexico

Holistic management on a New Mexico cattle ranch.      NOTE: this post was initially published to this site on December 28, 2016, and again on July 22, 2021

"Invasion Biology"

Attacking Aoudad on Behalf of Bighorn

NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on February 6th, 2017   The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) say aoudad harm desert mule deer, pronghorn and desert bighorn, and habitat, because they (1) eat plants, (2) drink water and (3) do well. In

"Invasion Biology"

Desperate to Rid Catalina of Invasive Deer, Officials Propose Bold Helicopter Hunt

It’s hard to name a single wildlife “management” practice pursued by the big conservation bureaucracies that does not involve the wholesale killing out of entire wildlife populations. Their glaring management failures are blamed on climate change and ‘invasive’ species, in this case mule deer and bison!   The definition of

"Invasion Biology"

Healing the Land with One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts

Healing the Land with One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts” is an inspirational short film that discusses regenerative agricultural practices on a Georgia farm.   This dying farm was regenerated using multi-species grazing in which all the animals were moved according to a plan that got them to the right place…at

"Invasion Biology"

Wolves Culling Deer Herds

Predators including wolves can cull weak or sick deer, elk and caribou much better than any wildlife “manager”. This makes predators the best means of removing CWD-infected animals from our wild herds.      Story available here -> http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150105-wolves-hunt-caribou   Note: this post was originally published

Bio-Diversity

The Science of Holistic Planned Grazing

Those who believe that Holistic Planned Grazing is not supported by science should watch this presentation by Dr. Richard Teaque, formerly of Texas A&M.    About Savory Institute: Grasslands represent 1/3 of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, but their steady decline has led to a loss of food,

Bio-Diversity

This Place Wanted to Be a Wetland’: How a Farmer Turned His Fields Into a Wildlife Sanctuary

Farmers creating wetlands…   NOTE: this article was originally published to The Guardian’s Apple News channel on October 22, 2023. It was written by Gabriel Canon.   Once, Karl Wenner’s Oregon land leaked pollution into a nearby lake. Now, 70 acres are home to waterfowl, turtles and endangered fish Birdsong

"Wolves"

Bisoncast: Hand and Paw

Wolves: there may be no other wild animal that inspires such a complex range of human emotions. In this visit to the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole Wyoming, we’ll explore how perceptions of these predators vary among different peoples and cultures, and how artists have reflected

Bio-Diversity

Cows and Keyline: Revisiting A Key Concept

“In a key post from 2014 – we highlighted our work with Cows and Keyline plow……”     NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on August 24, 2017

"Invasion Biology"

Drought Busters: Restoring Desertified Desert Grasslands

We call the combination of wild animals, planned grazing, water harvesting, and Keyline subsoiling “Drought Busters”. Drought Busters is cheap, fast, poisons no plants, kills no animals, and increases the numbers and diversity of both. Drought Busters can’t make it rain, but it will make actual rain more and

Bio-Diversity

Britain is Restoring Ancient Farmland 'Ghost Ponds'. Here's How They're Recovering Its Dwindling Biodiversity

As reported below, in England the number of once-common farm ponds has dropped by half over the last few decades. Like beaver ponds, farm ponds are biodiversity “powerhouses”. Awareness of their ecological importance is growing, and private owners are leading restoration efforts.   NOTE: this article was originally published to BBC’

Bio-Diversity

Preserving The Future of Grouse, Woodcock and Hunting

Ruffed Grouse are numerous in the Yellowstone area, including Pitchstone Waters. This excellent video from the Ruffed Grouse Society discusses why “Hands-Off” forest management policies are destroying the health of national forests, and dragging wildlife health and numbers down as forests decline.   The Ruffed Grouse Society is North America’s

"Invasion Biology"

Wildlife Killing Contests - The Movie

The polite and restrained movie appearing below is not anti-hunting. In fact, it should be mandatory viewing for all hunters and wildlife lovers.   While most of the contests target predators, each shot fired damages the legacy—and future—of ethical hunting. Why? These contests have nothing to do with wildlife

"Invasion Biology"

Everybody Knew the Invasive Grass of Maui Posed a Deadly Fire Threat, but Few Acted

As discussed below, the Lahaina fires were caused by excessive dry fuel accumulated over many years.    The only sustainable way to control this dangerous buildup is by grazing. But common sense is stopped by opposition to ‘non-native’ animals, which includes ANY animal that grazes.   NOTE: this article was originally published

habitat restoration

Carbon Offset Market Opens to Small Southern Timberland Owners

Here is a good article about using carbon credits to encourage private landowners to engage in better forestry practices.   While most carbon credits are environmentally and economically dubious, if we insist on these subsidies, let’s direct them towards holistic practices that reduce fire hazards while improving soil fertility.   NOTE:

Conservation

Incentivizing Wildlife Stewardship

The Endangered Species Act has prevented 99% of listed species from going extinct, but only 2% of listed species have actually recovered. Property & Environment Research Center (PERC) believes we can do better.     NOTE: this video was originally published to Pitchstonewaters.com on February 8, 2021

Cattle

Grass Fed Beef: Farm to Fork Wyoming

Fourth generation Wyoming ranchers, Bobby and Brendan Thoman, return cattle to the family operation – using an elegant logic of healthier soil and a focus on both the cow and customer.     NOTE: this post was priginally published to this site on February 1, 2021

Conservation

Keyline Desert Ranch

This video is about Keyline soil restoration on a desert ranch in Northern Mexico.   Keyline “flood-flow” channels are combined with Keyline contour ripping between “flood-flow” channels. Both channels and rip patterns are on contours established by drone survey and laser transit.   Disturbed soil has been seeded. Regrowth following 6-inches (150

"Invasion Biology"

Markets for Conservation: Reining in the Wild Horse Crisis

There are more wild horses and burros on the public landscape allotted to them than that range can sustain. Beautiful as they are, these animals are degrading the range and they compete for water and forage with other wildlife. The result of too many horses on too little range is

Conservation

Keyline in the Desert 2-Years Later With 78 Mm of Rain in the Year 2022

Below is an interesting video showing the results of Keyline treatment 2-years later, after 3 inches of rainfall. Although the video is in Spanish, the results of the area that was treated, and the area that was not treated, are evident.   <span style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow:

Bio-Diversity

Regulators, Landowners Form Habitat Protection Partnership

As discussed in the article below, it is ESSENTIAL that public forest managers and the private landowners that border them work collaboratively.   This needs to happen in the Greater Yellowstone area.   NOTE: this article was originally published to APNews.com on March 23, 2023. It was written by John Flesher.

Brush

Bad News for Wildlife and Habitat: Use of Vietnam-Era Plant Poison More Than Quadruples

The Wall Street Journal, arguably one of the most respected newspapers in the country, has swallowed the Kool-Aid, or, in this case, the 2-4-D. If readers were to accept this piece at face value, they would come to the conclusion that it is reasonable for the agrochemical giants to push

Bio-Diversity

'Rewilding’ Horses Aims to Mitigate Wildfires, Reduce Insured Losses

Wild Horse Fire Brigade’s Natural Wildfire Abatement and Forest Protection Plan is designed to relocate wild horses from Bureau of Land Management facilities into the wilderness, an effort designed to reduce the size and intensity of wildfires.

"Wolves"

State Seeks to Kill 50% More Lions in Hard-hit Deer Range

“Predator removals – paid for by the government for 150-years – have done vast damage to wildlife and habitat. How sad that despite all their accumulated animal knowledge and historical experience, the agencies apparently have “…learned nothing and forgotten nothing”.   NOTE: this article was originally published to JHNewsandGuide.com on June 19,

Bio-Diversity

4 Most Endangered Whitetail Destinations in America

Quoting the article below, “ The great state of Texas sports one of the most robust and proud deer hunting cultures in the nation, but it’s also home to what some consider the greatest threat to deer hunting in all of America: the captive deer industry.   NOTE: this article was