Allan Savory Is the Way Cattle Are Grazed the Key to Saving America's Prairies? “The article below gives another example of the application of holistic grazing concepts for the purpose of regenerating rangelands. NOTE: this article was originally published to NYTimes.com on January 13, 2020. It was written by Karen Weintraub. An unlikely alliance of ranchers and conservationists is working to find the
food-supply Deadly Diseases From Wildlife Thrive When Nature is Destroyed, Study Finds “As discussed below, much of what is wrong with human health originates in our agricultural practices. NOTE: this article was originally published to TheGuardian.com on August 5, 2020. It was written by Damian Carrington. Rats and bats that host pandemic pathogens like Covid-19 increase in damaged ecosystems, analysis shows
Cascades High in the Cascades, a Lone Fire Lookout Still Keeps Watch The last of a breed. NOTE: this article was originally published to NYTimes.com on January 13, 2019. Photographs and Text by Ruth Fremson. GLACIER PEAK WILDERNESS, Wash. — Smoke was rising over Bonanza Peak. So Russ Dalton, 72, stepped inside the lookout post perched high above the Glacier Peak Wilderness,
Elk Elk Return to Kentucky, Bringing Economic Life After a concerted reintroduction effort two decades ago, the state is now home to the largest population of elk east of the Mississippi. The animals’ home: reclaimed coal mines.
Biodiversity Ranching Alongside Predators in an Idaho Forest “Using domestic animals to restore overgrown forest near Yellowstone Park in Idaho.” Cattle, Goats, Bears and Cougar from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.
Huckleberry Lookout Trail Trail Runner Suffers Minor Injuries After Colliding with Grizzly Bear in Glacier National Park Chance encounters with bears are a constant danger in the mountain West. The Rhodesian ecologist and range management expert Allan Savory offered this advice on shooing away bears: “Re the bears. I have not had to deal with them other than while fishing in Alaska and found them much like
"Invasion Biology" National Parks are Being Overrun By Invasive Species As this article points out, people introduce the vast majority of so-called invasive species worldwide. What the article doesn’t mention is that we humans are the world’s most destructive invaders. Or, that of the hundreds of thousands of so-called invasive species that have been introduced, virtually none have
Biodiversity Hunting Is Conservation: A Paradox Explained Quoting the authors of the article below, ” Non-hunters are often surprised to learn that it was hunters who spearheaded the conservation efforts that rescued our nation’s wildlife from the cusp of extinction. The truth is: hunting and conservation have had a symbiotic relationship since the close of the 19th
Bio-Diversity Allan Savory on Permaculture and Holistic Management Here is a very interesting interview with the ecologist Allan Savory who, in the opinion of many, knows more about rangelands than anyone alive. He is best known for his discovery that global desertification can best be addressed and reversed by using livestock to mimic the grazing patterns of the
COVID-19 National Parks Are Getting Trashed During COVID-19, Endangering Surrounding Communities For many decades our national parks and forests have suffered as Congress has diverted federal lands’ mineral royalties, which are supposed to support public lands. As a result, infrastructure maintenance including upkeep of trails, roads and facilities increasingly is deferred. As described in the article below, public use has surged
fast growing Why Women Are the Fastest Growing Segment of the Hunting Population Quoting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the article below the authors write that, “Of 143 drugs and pesticides likely to be found in raw [domestic] meat and poultry, 42 were known to cause cancer or are suspected of causing cancer.” Healthier food is only one reason for
Beavers Beavers Rule the Roost at Crater Lake Whether we are talking about bears, bison or beavers, the best safety rule with wild animals is this: “Do not invade their space.” It is amazing how often the rule is violated. NOTE: this article was originally published to jhnewsandguide.com on July 15, 2020. It was written by Doreen
"Wolves" 25 Years After Returning to Yellowstone, Wolves Have Helped Stabilize The Ecosystem As discussed in the article below, “by reducing elk numbers and thinning out weak and sick animals, wolves are helping create more resilient elk herds.” This is true, but another likely reason for falling elk numbers is brucellosis, an infection known as “contagious abortion” that affects ruminant animals including cervids
Alaska Beavers Are Accelerating Climate Change in Alaska? According to the article below, which repeats claims of CNN, beavers change climate. This is not correct. Global climate has been warming for at least 15,000 years. Because climate has warmed, the habitable area of North America has vastly expanded. Before this warming, the Laurentide Ice Sheet was almost
Who Liked Hurricane Sandy? These Tiny, Endangered Birds As discussed below, barrier islands are very subject to storm “damage”, which change habitats from one year to the next. The species that inhabit them are adapted to these changes, and decline without them. NOTE: this article was originally published to The New York Times on June 21, 2019. It
Bio-Diversity Pitchstone Waters' "Chiveros" This video is about Pitchstone Waters’ “Chiveros” – Spanish for goat herders. This team of Peruvian goat herders and their dogs have raised herding to an art. Pitchstone Waters “Chiveros” from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.
Bison Management Plan Park Service, Forest Service Agree to Supplement Bison Management Plan Imagine if bison were added to deer, elk, moose and pronghorn as migratory animals coming and going from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and the millions of acres of public land surrounding them. As discussed in the article below, brucellosis, an infection known as “contagious abortion” that affects ruminant
Antlers Culling of Bucks Doesn’t Lead To Bigger Bucks, Research Says Western wildlife agency elk and deer managers should read this article. For 40 years, culling, the removal of “inferior” bucks from deer herds, has been a bedrock principle and practice in Texas deer “management.” As it turns out, culling harms deer herds and lessens their capacity to produce big, trophy-class
Bio-Diversity Wolf Species Rebounds in Southwest, Angering Ranchers The success of the Mexican gray wolf reintroductions is great news. Limited wolf hunting would change wolf behavior, making wolves less of a nuisance, according to ranchers quoted in the article below. Wolf advocates should get onboard with this. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on April
bear identification How to Tell Black Bears from Grizzly Bears “Is this bear photographed at Pitchstone Waters a black bear or a grizzly bear? Read below and then say which.” NOTE: this article was originally published to BearSmart.com Despite apparent differences in size and colour, grizzly vs black bear are often difficult to tell apart. Why is this important?
black bears Bear and Wolf on Fall River in Idaho We left this camera up all winter. So we have photos from October through June. We asked the experts… * What kind of bear? * Is this a wolf or a big coyote? Their response is below.
2020 Happy July 4, 2020 from Pitchstone Waters Ranch July 4, 2020 at Pitchstone Waters Ranch in Idaho. July 4th Fishing Picnic at Pitchstone Waters from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.
habitat restoration Jim Howell, Part II – Restoring Ecological Capital Through Grazing A business and investment model based on sustainable grazing of open ranges in the mountain West. NOTE: this article and podcast is owned by MountainandPrarie.com, and we’ve reposted it to this site. We have been associated with Mr. Howell for around 20 years, and are aligned to his
Bio-Diversity Book Review: Cat Tale: The Wild, Weird Battle to Save the Florida Panther “Quoting a reader: This is the latest of several books by an author whose focus is on nature (primarily Florida’s) and attempts to protect it, with special emphasis on what happens when a bureaucracy becomes involved. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on February 7, 2020.
grasslands Facts About Leafy Spurge As discussed below, leafy spurge uses explosive seed release, and wind, to throw seeds up to 15 feet. In addition to spreading by seed, its root systems increase by several feet each year, and the roots put up shoots. Chemicals are ineffective in controlling this plant, and cattle cannot eat
