"Invasion Biology"

Since the beginning of time, species have spread and contracted their ranges. A variety of factors including weather and climate influenced their spread and movement. Arguably, one of the most important modern factors is human influence.

"Invasion Biology"

How Beavers Build Dams

For 20-million years, beavers have been nature’s water engineers. In North America – before Europeans trapped them out – 400-million beavers impounded 50-million surface acres of water. Beaver eradication was a disaster for continental hydrology. Fortunately, they can be restored. Beavers can again work tirelessly, cheaply and effectively

"Invasion Biology"

Building Riparian Resilience Through Beaver Restoration

As this article explains, every aspect of desert ranching and conservation of wildlife is enhanced by beavers. NOTE: this article was originally posted to Seventh-Generation.org and is reposted here on CircleRanchTX.com – we do not take credit for the words / thoughts provided below. For many people around the

"Invasion Biology"

Can The Wild Horse Fire Brigade Really Work?

To be healthy, forests and grasslands need to be grazed. The grazing must come from more than one species. For millions of years in North America,  horses and their ancestors have been part of the animal impact that wild plants need. NOTE: this article was initially published to HorseTalk.co.

"Invasion Biology"

Mowing Encourages Yearly Return of Grasses and Wildflowers in Texas' Roadways

The reason that Texas’ roadways are brush free, have excellent grass cover and lots of wildflowers is because at just the right time of their growth – once or twice per year – they are completely mowed. The next time you drive down the highway, compare the condition of the grass in

"Invasion Biology"

Uprooting FDR’s ‘Great Wall of Trees’

This article highlights the environmental mentality of the modern farming methods taught in our universities. As described below, farmers are destroying the Northern Great Plains shelter belts which the WPA planted – for their benefit and at great cost – during the Great Depression. Quoting the authors: “FDR, long fascinated by forestry,

"Invasion Biology"

Urban Coyote: Myth or Fact?

Surprising facts about coyotes.

"Invasion Biology"

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Scientist?

The wolf debate is more about politics than economics or the environment. NOTE: this article initially appeared on NYTimes.com on July 5, 2018. It was written by Christopher Solomon. Rob Wielgus was one of America’s pre-eminent experts on large carnivores. Then he ran afoul of the enemies

Bighorn

Supplemental Water and Feed for Desert Bighorn Sheep

In my experience, like elk, bighorn thrive unless humans kill them or the other animals with which they are interdependent.  Sheep are one of the few species humans have been able to domesticate.  They are human-tolerant which is why they are easy to hunt.

"Invasion Biology"

Elk Country Chronicles - The Sounds of Elk Country Volume 7

Take a minute to enjoy the peaceful sounds of elk country. With good game management policies, this could be anywhere in far-West Texas. Instead these animals are shot out on all state-managed lands under the scientifically bogus belief that they are non-native ‘invasive’ species that harm bighorn,

"Invasion Biology"

Book Review... "Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter"

A reader remarks: “Ben has woven together a holistic picture about beavers, illustrating the remarkably diverse interactions between this species’ biology and the history of the North American landscape, both geologically and culturally.” NOTE: this book, Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter is available for

"Invasion Biology"

Coyotes & Prairie Dogs

Coyotes and prairie dogs are essential to the the health of desert grasslands. For decades, both were targets of widespread eradication efforts, paid by the public and conducted by ‘conservation’ agencies.

"Invasion Biology"

Hunting's Remarkable Resilience

Hunters defend their tradition because it helps control population, generates conservation revenues and Fair Chase expresses good sportsmanship. But predation is also physiologically better for wildlife and habitats. Hunters are often as unaware of this natural principle as non-hunters. Just like wolves, cougars, bears and other apex predators, humans

"Invasion Biology"

Can Dirt Save the Earth?

This article concludes, “The essential (environmental) insight is one often overlooked when we talk about climate change: The element that threatens to smother civilization is also, in different forms, the fundamental building block of life. To prevent carbon from causing misery and destruction, perhaps we just need to change its

"Invasion Biology"

How Spanish Ibérico Pork Found Its Way to Texas

In the Spanish deserts, pigs which forage for themselves and fatten on seasonal acorns produce hams that can bring $2,000 apiece. In Texas, anticompetitive regulations and bureaucratic red-tape effectively prevent Texans from marketing free-range feral pigs. Before the Civil War, the primary source of income for German

"Invasion Biology"

The Art Of The Cattle Move II: Grazing Plans

This beautiful video discusses the importance of the grazing plan in sustainable ranching. The authors explain, “The most important tool we use in management of the land is being able to control the amount of time that cattle graze a particular pasture. Too long in a pasture and the grass

"Invasion Biology"

Montana Tries to Make Predators Bearable

“There are common sense ways to adjust ranch practices to accommodate predators. Here is one. NOTE: the post below is a “Snapshots” snippet from PERC.org‘s PERCReports Summer 2018 edition. It can be found on Page 7. Montana tries to make predators bearable. Dead livestock in bear country can

"Invasion Biology"

‘Rewilding’ Missing Carnivores May Help Restore Some Landscapes

Because of how nature works, wildlife and habitats cannot be restored without (1) predators, (2) prey and, (3) keystone grazers.  This article looks at one missing piece of this trio. NOTE: this article was originally published to NYTimes.com on March 16, 2018. It was written by JoAnna Klein If

"Invasion Biology"

The Art Of The Cattle Move Part I: The Philosophy

The authors of this beautifully-photographed video explain, “The core of Ranchlands’ ranching operations is rotational grazing. The majority of our time is spent preparing for, executing, and checking on the rotation of cattle through pastures in a migratory fashion. From stimulating new plant growth through grazing and returning nutrients

"Invasion Biology"

A Million Tons of Feces And An Unbearable Stench: Life Near Industrial Pig Farms

The way we raise our grocery store pork is so repulsive that it is unfit for discussion in polite company. Almost everyone averts their eyes from the filth and cruelty of these pig factories, and the damage they do to rural communities, environments, watersheds and public health. Public indifference gives

"Invasion Biology"

Arctic Foxes on a Swedish Mountain Turned ‘Blue.’ It Was a Good Thing

Scandinavians’ common sense approach to wildlife restoration led them to increase genetic diversity of endangered fox populations by adding animals which are not precisely ‘native’ – thereby saving the foxes. Likewise, when Texas reestablished Desert Bighorn Sheep, transplants were brought from far-away, isolated populations, none of which were ‘native’. This

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Bighorn Ram Killed at Circle Ranch, July 28, 2018

Desert Bighorn Sheep are the rarest of four wild sheep found in North America. A Circle Ranch guest shot this 169-5/8 Boone & Crockett bighorn ram on July 28, 2018. We see rams this big – or bigger – all the time. In our experience, sheep are easy to raise,

"Invasion Biology"

Can American Soil be Brought Back to Life?

Many factors have contributed to the destruction of soil fertility, starting with biodiversity loss which is the root cause of the decline of wildlife, habitat and croplands. Farming, ranching and wildlife practices are best judged according to the extent to which they restore soil fertility. Most everything we do fails

"Invasion Biology"

An Ancient Horse Is Unearthed in a Utah Backyard

Horses evolved in America. They and their ancestors were in our deserts for millions of years. Horses disappeared about 5,000-years ago, largely because of early Native American hunting. The Spanish brought them back 500-years ago, and by 1830 there were again 2,000,000 wild horses. These

"Invasion Biology"

Dam Good! Beavers May Restore Imperiled Streams, Fish Populations

The picture above shows what can happen when stream beds erode and disconnect from their old floodplains. Wetlands are now fallow meadows. As discussed in the article below, beavers have trouble building dams in these eroded streams where trees have disappeared. Where heavy material is lacking, and contained flood runoff

"Invasion Biology"

EU Member States Support Near-Total Neonicotinoids Ban

Once again, the Europeans lead the US with policies and practices that ensure public and environmental health. As reported in the article below, neonicotinoid-based insecticides are used on most of our seeds to prevent their being eaten by insects. These are very harmful for the very reason that they