wildfire mitigation - Pitchstone Waters

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wildfire mitigation

A collection of 24 posts

Increased Wildfires, Toxic Smoke & Imbalanced Ecosystems Leading to Depredation of Livestock by Apex Predators

Wild Horse Fire Brigade

Increased Wildfires, Toxic Smoke & Imbalanced Ecosystems Leading to Depredation of Livestock by Apex Predators

The loss of millions of critically important herbivores (deer, elk and wild horses) has resulted in several serious adverse impacts costing American taxpayers hundreds of $-billions annually.

LA FIRES: Can Saving American Wild Horses Help Reduce The Loss of Life And Economic Losses By Preventing & Reducing Wildfires & Toxic Smoke?

Wild Horse Fire Brigade

LA FIRES: Can Saving American Wild Horses Help Reduce The Loss of Life And Economic Losses By Preventing & Reducing Wildfires & Toxic Smoke?

The devastating grass and brush fueled wildfires in Los Angeles we are all witnessing may be just a glimpse of the upcoming summer in the western United States

Anthropologist Documents How Women and Shepherds Historically Reduced Wildfire Risk in Central Italy

Catastrophic wildfires

Anthropologist Documents How Women and Shepherds Historically Reduced Wildfire Risk in Central Italy

In the last several decades, large forest fires have increasingly threatened communities across the Mediterranean.

bare trees on rocky hill under white sky during daytime

"Invasion Biology"

A Plant That’s Everywhere is Fueling a Growing Risk of Wildfire Disaster

A ubiquitous, resilient and seemingly harmless plant is fueling an increase in large, fast-moving and destructive wildfires in the United States.

Wild Horses Coevolved with Wildfire on The North American Landscape

horses and wildfire

Wild Horses Coevolved with Wildfire on The North American Landscape

Here is a good article with many valuable ideas on managing wild horses. These are controversial to say the least. Let us think about this issue holistically: Horses are COMPLEMENTARY to — not COMPETITIVE with — the wildlife, plants, and water of North America because these coevolved over the last 40 million

Fuel, Fire, and Wild Horses

"Invasion Biology"

Fuel, Fire, and Wild Horses

Wildfire continues to devastate the American West at increasing rates. According to some, the plan that could combat the danger of forest fire lies in the complicated history and present role of the wild horse. Naturalist rancher William E. Simpson II, Michael Perez, and Pulitzer Prize winning author David Philipps

PG&E Scraps Tree-Trimming Program Once Seen as Key to Fire Prevention

forest thinning

PG&E Scraps Tree-Trimming Program Once Seen as Key to Fire Prevention

California utility spent more than $2 billion on effort it says was ineffective; focus now is on power-line settings

The American Heritage of Wild Horses

The American Heritage of Wild Horses

As discussed in the article below, horses DID NOT arrive in the Americas around 1492: They were already there. Horses evolved in the Americas; horses did not exist anywhere else before 17,000 years ago. Therefore, even under the bogus timelines and definitions of invasive species “biology”, horses’ presence in

Firefighters Boost Use of Prescribed Burns in Bid to Prevent Massive Wildfires

Firefighters Boost Use of Prescribed Burns in Bid to Prevent Massive Wildfires

According to the article below, “The aim of the prescribed burns is to rob natural infernos of the combustible material that has stoked the megafires that have ravaged communities in the region in recent years.” Wildfires are not proliferating because of climate change. They are increasing because more and more

Are Prescribed Burns The Silver Bullet Suggested For Wildfires?

Are Prescribed Burns The Silver Bullet Suggested For Wildfires?

“Outside-the-box thinking on prescribed burns, from the founder of Wild Horse Brigade. NOTE: this article was sent to us, and written by, Willian Simpson on January 5, 2022. It is published here with permission from the author. Feature photo is of the the deadly 2018 Klamathon Fire approaching Camp Creek.

To Prevent Huge Wildfires, Australia Leans More on Indigenous Experience

"Invasion Biology"

To Prevent Huge Wildfires, Australia Leans More on Indigenous Experience

“As discussed in the article below, in Australia as in the US, the ‘natural systems’ found by Europeans were actually human artifacts, formed and shaped by thousands of years of human impact. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on February 16, 2023. It was written by Mike

Prescribed Burns – Are Not The Silver Bullet Suggested For Wildfires

horses and wildfire

Prescribed Burns - Are Not The Silver Bullet Suggested For Wildfires

“Quoting the author of the article below, “Most unfortunately, it seems that the most effective method for managing grass and brush wildfire fuels, using large bodied herbivores, is being overlooked in favor of methods that can be monetized”. NOTE: this article was sent to us, and written by, Willian Simpson

Wild Horses Can Prevent Out-of-control Wildfires Out West, Researcher Says. Here’s How

Catastrophic wildfires

Wild Horses Can Prevent Out-of-Control Wildfires Out West, Researcher Says. Here’s How

Roaming wild horses may help cut down on the size and intensity of wildfires out west, according to research from the Wild Horse Fire Brigade. NOTE: this article was originally published to SacBee.com on October 18, 2022. It was written by By Brooke Baitinger. Roaming wild horses may help

At Yosemite, a Preservation Plan That Calls for Chain Saws

California wildfires

At Yosemite, a Preservation Plan That Calls for Chain Saws

As discussed below, most experts now agree that logging and prescribed burning are necessary to improve forest health. Other practices which are not discussed in this article – but equally needed – are hunting and domestic livestock grazing. All of these are fiercely opposed. NOTE: this article was originally published to NYTimes.

How Environmental Red Tape Inflames Wildfire Risk

How Environmental Red Tape Inflames Wildfire Risk

This article from the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), a free market environmental think tank based in Bozeman, discusses the “analysis paralysis” of the federal forest agencies. Regulatory overkill combined with environmental lawsuits make wildfire mitigation nearly impossible. Quoting the authors, “Across all mechanical fire-treatment projects, it takes an

Goats, Brush, Weeds and Wildfire

Goats, Brush, Weeds and Wildfire

At Pitchstone Waters Ranch in Idaho, 5-miles southwest of Yellowstone Park, we use goats and cattle to reduce brush, control “weeds” and forbs, reduce wildfire and stimulate plant growth on forest floors and meadows.

When Goats Become Firefighters, Not Everyone Follows Orders

"Invasion Biology"

When Goats Become Firefighters, Not Everyone Follows Orders

The article below discusses using goat herds to reduce the frequency and intensity of wildfire. At Pitchstone Waters, we use goats every year. Their favorite food is leafy spurge – a rapidly spreading weed that no other domestic or wild animal will eat, and which is immune to herbicides. NOTE: this

Understanding ‘Wild Horse Fire Brigade’

"Invasion Biology"

Understanding ‘Wild Horse Fire Brigade’

As discussed in the compelling article published below, “Wild horses that are restored back into their evolutionary roles as keystone herbivores naturally protect forests, wildlife, watersheds and wilderness ecosystems, which benefit through symbiotic grazing by wild horses that naturally maintain wildfire fuels (grass and brush) to nominal levels, thereby reducing

The Unconventional Weapon Against Future Wildfires: Goats

The Unconventional Weapon Against Future Wildfires: Goats

Appearing below is an excellent article on goats and wildfire control. Goats have worked very well for us at Pitchstone Waters in Idaho, as discussed extensively in this blog. NOTE: this article was originally published to NYTimes.com on September 18, 2021. It was written by Coral Murphy Marcos. In

Wild Horses: Analysis of The Issues and a Novel Science-supported Solution

"Invasion Biology"

Wild Horses: Analysis of The Issues and a Novel Science-supported Solution

Quoting the author of the article below, “The current American wild horse management paradigm fails economically and ecologically. Despite decades of activity, the wild horse advocacy has had virtually no meaningful effect on the plight of American wild horses. And, unfortunately, they have offered no plan that is genetically, ecologically

USDA Offers New Forest Management Incentive for Conservation Reserve Program

USDA Offers New Forest Management Incentive for Conservation Reserve Program

As reported below, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is paying people to engage in innovative forestry practices on private land. USDA says these practices reduce fire hazards, increase water retention in soil, and benefit habitat and the wildlife it supports. Meanwhile, next to Pitchstone Waters in Idaho, the