building habitat Building Waterfowl Habitat on the Snake River in Idaho Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area in Southwest Idaho provides an important stop over for resident and migrating ducks and geese. Habitat biologists strive to create the perfect mix of open water, cover and food. NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on November 9, 2020
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 6/6/2023 North America's early history with horses. And how Indigenous people intereacted with them. Elk numbers and how our forests play a role. And more….
"Invasion Biology" Horse Nations Coming home: As discussed below, “Horses evolved millions of years ago in North America and, after spreading to Eurasia and Africa, went extinct in their homeland at the end of the last ice age. Along with nearly 40 other species of megafauna, from saber-toothed tigers and mammoths to camels, they
"Wolves" Wolf Caught Swimming Off Remote Part of Vancouver Island “A British Columbia woman was on a boat at the right time and managed to see a wolf swimming near Kyuquot Sound off the coast of Vancouver Island. NOTE: this article was originally published to VancouverisAwesome.com on March 30, 2023. It was written by Alanna Kelly. — Maxine Caroline Gillette
"Invasion Biology" RESEARCH ARTICLE ON HORSES: Early Dispersal of Domestic Horses Into the Great Plains and Northern Rockies Are horses native to, or so-called “invasive exotics“ in North America? As discussed below, “Horses were deeply integrated into Indigenous (American Indian) societies before the arrival of 18th-century (1700’s) European observers, as reflected in herd management, ceremonial practices, and culture. “This study established that Indigenous peoples were living and
"Wolves" How Predators and Forest Management Affect Elk Numbers Elk numbers around Yellowstone Park have declined over recent decades. This is usually blamed on wolves and bears. But according to this video, forest management probably plays a larger role. NOTE: this post was originally posted to this site on November 2, 2020.
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 5/30/2023 The enormous and growing use of Glyphosate. Mama eagle won't leave her snow covered nest. Changing minds about wolves. And more….
Bayer Glyphosate for Breakfast? As discussed below, “American applications of Glyphosate – the most heavily-used chemical weed killer in human history – increased sixteen-fold between 1987 and 2007. Today, traces of the chemical are found far from the farm. It is so widespread that unless you live in a bubble and grow your own food, it’
Eagles Webcam Captures Mama Bald Eagle Who Won’t Leave Nest Covered in Over Foot of Snow After Winter Storm “A blanket of snow absolutely swamped the bald eagles’ nest. But mama eagle wasn’t going anywhere. NOTE: this article was originally published to TheEpochTimes.com on March 21, 2023. It was written by Anna Mason. After winter storms hit Minnesota in February, a remote wildlife camera caught one stalwart
"Invasion Biology" Dropping the Fences, Episode 2: RAIN After reading the signs, Johnny’s predictions of good rain come true after seven years of drought. Within weeks the veld is transformed in a great renewal as seeds that have lain dormant for years come to life. It’s time for Veronica to learn more about regenerative agriculture with
"Invasion Biology" My Rancher Parents Hate Wolves. I Took Them on a Wolf-Watching Tour in Yellowstone to Change Their Minds The wolf debate out West is driven in large part by ignorance – on both sides. A morning spent with Wolf Trackers would greatly help the parties to find common ground for compromise. In order to preserve and restore wildlife and wildlife habitat, we must make these decisions based on giving
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 5/23/2023 Mass bison hunt kills 1,150. Predators chasing prey in Yellowstone. Nature’s fear factor. And more….
Cattle Virtual Fences for Cattle Find a Home on the Range “Virtual fences could be a game-changing grazing innovation, especially on public lands where permanent fences are prohibited. “I think it’s the best thing since barbed wire,” said Kristy Wallner, a BLM rangeland specialist in Colorado. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on May 18, 2023. It
"Wolves" The Chase “A national park should present a vignette of primitive America.” – A. Starker Leopold Predator-prey chases happen countless times every day in Yellowstone, but we rarely witness them. Kira Cassidy, research associate with the Yellowstone Wolf Project, provides context and insight as a wolf tests an elk along Soda Butte Creek.
Mass Yellowstone Hunt Kills 1,150 Bison Thanks to agency policies that put dogma ahead of common sense, our National Park bison and elk herds are the national reservoir for brucellosis. It is essential that an all-out effort be initiated to control disease, which causes spontaneous abortions in cattle, in the Parks using the most modern technology
Biodiversity Nature's Fear Factor “For animals in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, the normal balance of competition and predation was upended when a war wiped out the top predators. The remaining animals didn’t simply grow in numbers—they began behaving in unusual ways, veering outside their typical territories and feeding patterns. Could it
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 5/16/2023 Winter crushes Wyoming Mule Deer. The case against fences. Tasmainian Devils are retruning to Mainland Australia. And more….
Mule Deer Winter Crushes Wyoming Range Mule Deer Fawns The usual suspects – hunting, weather, livestock, and development – are blamed for this very cold and wet season’s toll on wildlife. As usual, there is no thought about how so-called ‘conservation’ practices have degraded habitat and wild animal health, making wildlife less able to withstand cold and disease. NOTE: this
Animal Growth Dropping the Fences (Episode 1) - DUST A South African story. Two families who have lived on N’Rougas Farm for generations embark on a project of renewal and hope together. In this episode, Veronica, the farm owner, sets out on a mission to farm sheep in a predator-friendly way while an ongoing and worsening drought has
"Invasion Biology" Tasmanian Devils Return to Mainland Australia for First Time in 3000 Years Here is an interesting article about how on the Australian mainland, Australian wildlife managers are reintroducing an animal wiped out thousands of years ago by human impact. Reintroducing a native animal thousands of years later (the Aussies describe that as an “Ecological blink of an eye”) to restore biodiversity and
Newsletter Restoring Biodiversity - 5/9/2023 Politicians make a statement with the Forest Service. Holistic management explained. Rodents with orange teeth? And more….
Conservation Politicians Tell Forest Service: Do More to Fight Wildfires “Quoting the article below, “The Forest Service has estimated that more than 460 million acres are at moderate to high risk from wildfire.” NOTE: this article was originally published to APNews.com on April 28, 2023. It was written by Usan Montoya Bryan. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Lawmakers from several
Bio-Diversity What is Holistic Management? From the Savory Institute. The Savory Institute’s mission is to facilitate the large-scale regeneration of the world’s grasslands through Holistic Management. The organization’s educational consulting activities are turning deserts into thriving grasslands, restoring biodiversity, bringing streams, rivers and water sources back to life, combating poverty and hunger,
Bio-Diversity Be on the Lookout for Rodents of Unusual Size With Orange Teeth As discussed below, “The nutria’s voracious eating habits—they consume up to a quarter of their weight daily—have damaged thousands of acres of Louisiana coast, turning some wetlands into open water.” Nutria will overpopulate without predators. There is a simple solution for nutria control in southern wetlands: alligators.
Bio-Diversity Purcell Mountains Wildlife Idaho Fish and Game cameras capture wildlife in Idaho’s Purcell Mountains. This remote and rugged range extends north into British Columbia where its upper reaches offer some of the continent’s most famous mountaineering and powder skiing opportunities. NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on October
