Bounty Program Bounty Program Looks to Help Control Texas' Feral Hog Problem For thousands of years, wild and domestic animals have been sold as food. Because this “bounty” works so well, stopping market hunting is the first thing we do to protect the wild species. Human civilization was made possible in large part by free-ranging, foraging pigs that converted natural feed and
Aberdeen Angus Aberdeen Angus Cattle: America's Most Popular Breed The Aberdeen Angus, sometimes simply Angus, is a Scottish breed of small beef cattle. It derives from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus in north-eastern Scotland. Aberdeen Angus cattle have been recorded in Scotland since at least the 16th century in the country’s northeast. In America
"Invasion Biology" Wyoming Game and Fish Prepares for CWD at Elk Feedgrounds The well-intentioned state and federal government practice of feeding elk on public lands has led to overpopulation and over-concentration of these animals. The combination of too many elk in too little space has put elk at great danger for contracting Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Since CWD appeared 40-years ago in
"Invasion Biology" “Wil E. Coyote” for the Evolutionary Win More on the “discovery” of Red Wolves in Texas. The real hero is “Wil E. Coyote,” the indomitable little wolf of our Southwestern deserts. Taking a cue from “The Roadrunner,” his cartoon adversary, the coyote has run circles around the “conservation” scientists and their publicly funded, 100-year eradication campaign. The
Conservation The Great Migration by Johann Fanzoj A beautiful double rifle by the Ferlach, Austria gunmaker Johan Fanzoj. He describes the rifle as follows, “The Great Migration” portrayed by Johann Fanzoj in artistic splendor, in a 5-year-project based on a monumental large-caliber double rifle in cal. .600NE, with spare barrels cal..470NE. A magnificent, primal and profoundly
"Invasion Biology" Elk Country Chronicles - The Sounds of Elk Country Volume 10 Nothing is as peaceful as elk country. Rather than trying to eliminate all elk on Texas’ public lands under the scientifically-bogus belief that they are an “invasive, exotic” species that harms bighorn, pronghorn and mule deer, wildlife agencies, conservation organizations and universities should simply follow their own North American Wildlife
"Invasion Biology" Rise of the Golden Jackal The golden jackal is Europe’s coyote. Like coyotes in North America, golden jackals are spreading because: (1) Mother Nature abhors a vacuum, and (2) natural systems require predators. When looked at this way, the golden jackal’s spread into empty biological pockets created by the eradication of native predators
Bighorn German Winemakers See Boon in Climate Change Global climate has never been static. In fact “Climate Change” is as old as the Earth. For millions of years, the Earth’s climate has vacillated between ice ages and warm periods. For the last 20,000-years, humans have benefited from the latest warming trend – a trend which continues. When
Blue Quail Scaled Quail Hunting Scaled quail are notorious for running from dogs on point. After the covey rise, the singles are tired and will usually hold a little better. English Pointers, Labs and English Cockers do a great job finding, flushing and retrieving these cool little birds.
America ‘America’s Mississippi’ Review: Overflowing With Life The amazing wildlife of the Mississippi River. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on November 29, 2018. It was written by Dorothy Rabinowitz. Midway into the first episode of “America’s Mississippi” (begins Wednesday, 8 p.m., Smithsonian Channel), you’re confronted with a pair of eyes
"Texas History" Book Review: Fire and Blood - A History of Mexico Fire and Blood: A History of Mexico, published in 1973, is still the best history of Mexico and the Mexicans available. Written by San Antonian TR Fehrenbach, with whom I shared a 40-year friendship, the book sympathetically explains Mexican history, culture, character and personalities. Mexico’s friends should read this
Conservation A Permit Runs Through It Often, the biggest impediments to conservation are the conservation agencies. NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.org on December 6, 2018. It was written by Martin Doyle. Oregon ranchers who set out to restore streams in Silvies Valley find regulatory purgatory Colby Marshall has given up on calling
"Invasion Biology" Will Mushrooms Be Magic for Threatened Bees? Seventy years ago, Dr. William Albrecht, the “Father of Soil Fertility,” wrote, “It’s not the overpowering invader we must fear but the weakened condition of the victim.” Outbreaks of parasite-spread diseases must be treated if possible, but treating symptoms can’t be confused with treating causes. While symptoms, both
blue-origin Blue Origin's January 23, 2019 Rocket Launch in far-West Texas Blue origin, the private rocket company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is based next to Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. Here is a video of their January 23, 2019 launch. The rocket’s flight lasted 10 minutes, the maximum altitude reached was 66 miles, the maximum speed was about
Animal Development Yellowstone Grizzly Bears Protected After Judge Bans Hunting This well-intentioned effort harms bear restorations. NOTE: this article was originally published to USAToday.com on September 24, 2018. It was written by Trevor Hughes. The judge ruled U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials were “arbitrary and capricious” in their 2017 decision to remove the bears’ protections under the
"Invasion Biology" One of Nature’s Smallest Flowering Plants Can Survive Inside of a Duck Nature constantly introduces new plants into new places as this article on the spread of the lowly duckweed illustrates. Usually “alien exotic” plants don’t “invade” stable systems, but colonize damaged habitats where they previously couldn’t survive. We often look at this natural process backwards, seeing the result while
hunters Poisoned Wildlife and Tainted Meat: Why Hunters Are Moving Away From Lead Bullets The lead in spent bullets and shot never goes away. It accumulates, year after year, eventually poisoning marshes and any environment where guns are fired. When the long-term environmental damage from lead shot and bullets is considered, it becomes obvious that non-toxic substitutes are necessary. NOTE: this article was originally
"Invasion Biology" Q&A - The Rules that Govern Life on Earth - with Sean B Carroll How resilient will nature be to climate change? Why are there no very large mammalian predators? Is there a place for controlled hunting of rhinos? Sean B Carroll answers questions from the audience following his talk, which can be seen by clicking here.
"Invasion Biology" The Problem with Ice Age Overkill Those on the left of the political spectrum are loathe to admit that the ancestors of Native Americans could have harmed the environment. While those on the right can’t acknowledge that our industrial methods—from manufacturing to agriculture—could be harming nature. Both sides should take a hard look
Bio-Diversity In Mozambique, a Living Laboratory for Nature’s Renewal This remarkable success story from Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park shows how fast systems can recover when keystone grazers, numerous prey species and the full compliment of predators are restored. For more on this topic look at the lecture of Dr. Sean B. Carroll, author of the Serengeti Rules: He
"Invasion Biology" Pronghorn: Experts in Speed and Sight Pronghorn are the fastest land animal in North America. They are found only in the grasslands. Pronghorn numbers are declining, yet at one time as many as 30-million existed interdependently with bison. For the same reasons they needed bison, pronghorn are compatible with cattle. Pronghorn: Experts in Speed and Sight
Bio-Diversity EPA Allows Farmers to Keep Using Bayer’s Controversial Weedkiller Collapsing insect populations probably explain the loss of much wildlife – including quail. Insect disappearance is an ominous trend which could foretell the failure of the world’s food web. Meanwhile the agrochemical giants continue to proliferate ever more powerful herbicides, pesticides and chemicals while a co-opted regulatory, academic and conservation
California Supervolcano California Supervolcano May Be As Dangerous as Yellowstone's “As described in this article, one of three super-volcanoes in the United States is in New Mexico. Valles Caldera is located in north-central New Mexico in the central Jemez Mountains west of Santa Fe. It is the oldest of three young caldera-type volcanoes in the United States; the other two
Bio-Diversity Hyperalarming Study Shows Massive Insect Loss Agricultural chemicals play a major role in this process, which ultimately threatens the world’s food web. NOTE: this article was originally published to WashingtonPost.com and circulated by ExpressNews.com on October 15, 2018. It was written by Ben Guarino. Insects around the world are in a crisis, according
Bio-Diversity Hotel California? Quoting the authors below: “If the Endangered Species Act is going to meet the wildlife challenges of the 21st century, it has to be something more than a one-way street into a cul-de-sac of perpetual stasis. Otherwise, in the immortal words of the Eagles, the endangered species list becomes like
