Algae Blooms Parts of Florida Are In a State of Emergency Over a Toxic Algae Bloom That Can Be Seen From Space The ubiquitous use of agricultural chemicals is poisoning our ranges, farmlands, estuaries and oceans, posing huge risks to our civilization. NOTE: This post initially appeared on Quartz (QZ.com) Some Florida coasts look like scenes from a horror film. The green goo is everywhere, it’s scaring people and causing
"Invasion Biology" Study Shows Mountain Lions Pose no Human Threat in Big Bend National Park Studies at Big Bend National Park show that mountain lions avoid humans, are most active early and late in the day, and that female lions are more active than males. This is consistent with our experience and observations at Circle Ranch, where we protect our lions because they and all
Quail Montezuma’s Reward: The Rarest Quail in Texas Mearns or Montezuma, the largest and rarest of our four Texas quails, is found throughout the mountains of far-West Texas. We have this quail in small numbers at Circle Ranch. Blues and Gambels are runners. Mearns hold even more tightly than bobwhite. What a shock when they flush—literally—from
Bio-Diversity Antibiotic Use on Farms Helps Fuel Antibiotic-Resistant Diseases Feral pigs, according to our wildlife and food quality experts, are unfit to eat because they carry diseases. But do they? Over the last 30 years, the two largest processors of wild pigs in Texas have slaughtered and tested tens of thousands of animals. They have never found a diseased
Animal Development 5 Rules for Bigger, Better and More Mulies A great article by Steve Nelle that outlines how to have more and healthier mule deer, quail and pronghorn. 1. Grazing management is the single most important way to affect mule deer food supply. When grass conditions permit, practice light-to-moderate seasonal grazing, in some rotational form (examples include “holistic planned
Conservation National Parks: Lost and Neglected Considering the Federal record in financial regulation, education, healthcare and a host of other arenas, is it news that their management of public lands is a mess? Why should the Federal government own 640-million acres? Texas, as a private lands state, doesn’t have this problem on a large scale,
Bio-Diversity Princeton University: Wildlife and Cows Can Be Partners Not Competitors in Food Search Cattle and horses closely resemble native animals that would be the dominant large grazers in North America, but for human impact. Horses – these include donkeys or burros – and their ancestors were in our deserts for 50 million years. They disappeared 5,000 years ago and have been back for 500
Bio-Diversity Dirt First Agricultural practices are generally viewed as different from wildlife and habitat practices, whereas both should rest on the long-term objective of increasing soil fertility. The practices described below are similar to ours at Circle Ranch, as the photos illustrate. NOTE: This article was originally published by TheFern.org on April
"Invasion Biology" Slideshow: Circle Ranch Wildlife, December 2016 There is not a federal or state park in far-West Texas where one can see free ranging elk, sheep, pronghorn and mule deer together. These animals and many others are found in abundance at Circle Ranch, because of our (1) water system, (2) periodic planned cattle grazing, (3) protection of
Bio-Diversity If Monsanto Loses Its Name, What Will Opponents Oppose? The Wall Street Journal remains in the hip pocket of the agrochemical giants. In the story below, the supposedly conservative news organization makes fun of those who worry about the poisons being poured on our farmland, because thanks to genetic modification, many of our crops are immune to the poisons
Conservation Curbs Are Sought for Livestock Antibiotics More on the damage being done to public health by the confinement livestock industry. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on October 4, 2016 U.S. food regulators need to take further steps to curb antibiotics use in livestock to maintain the drugs’ ability to defend human health,
"Invasion Biology" Building Soil Fertility by Peter Byck Physiologically there is no difference between public land and private land. What hurts or benefits one has the same effect on the other. Wildlife managers, whether we work on public or private land, must adopt restoration ecology if we hope to reverse the desertification of American Southwest’s grasslands. This
"Invasion Biology" A Poison for Every Plant Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association is an outstanding organization. Annually, TSCRA circulates to its members a calendar like this one, compliments of Bayer-Monsanto Chemical. The fact that this leading, respected cattle organization is promoting the ubiquitous use of rangeland pesticides demonstrates the extent to which ranchers, farmers and wildlife
Bighorn Circle Ranch High Country Pronghorn, Desert Bighorn Sheep and Golden Eagles in the high-desert mountains of far-West Texas. Circle Ranch High Country from Christopher Gill on Vimeo. This video was shot, edited and scored by Jared and Tawny Zachary. They maintain our game cameras and guide. Jerad’s day job finds him in the
feral hogs Raising Better Pork, Humanely It is completely feasible to produce superior pork in a way that is profitable, clean and kind.
Animal Growth Screwworm Returns To The United States The screwworm eradication program—a triumph of animal health science—came with unintended consequences. When the flesh-eating pest was eradicated and big predators were removed, deer numbers exploded. Now more than ever we need to protect deer predators for the health of the deer herds and their habitat, which cattle
game cameras Circle Ranch Game Cameras - Mid Fall 2016 Do most of the species pictured below—and all of the predators—“compete” with each other and harm bighorn, mule deer, pronghorn and ecosystem health as the wildlife agencies say? Or do they complement each other? Is biodiversity good or bad for our deserts? Recent studies of the Serengeti shed
food safety Doubts About the Promised Bounty of Genetically Modified Crops The New York Times says it has has “discovered” that the poisons routinely used to produce GMO crops are a danger to human health and soil fertility. The extent to which the mainstream press has averted its eyes from the obvious facts is a direct reflection of the degree to
Bio-Diversity McDonald’s Expands Fresh Beef Test Consumer demand for fresh, wholesome meat, vegetables and grains is causing a return to sustainable ranching and agriculture. The move away from antibiotics, hormones and factory meat production forces practices that restore farmland and rangelands. It is coincidental, as well as an enormous bonus, that these are more profitable and
"Invasion Biology" Public Wildlife on Private Land The unification of wildlife management and private land management is essential for the wellbeing of both.
Bio-Diversity Pigs and Soil When raised under traditional methods, pigs are good – not bad – for land.
"Invasion Biology" Book Review: ‘Fishing: How the Sea Fed Civilization’ There are many parallels between the mistreatment of fisheries and mistreatment of wildlife. NOTE: this post initially appeared on WSJ.com on September 22, 2017 Cooperation among fishermen fostered complex communities while boat building seeded exploration. Richard Adams Carey reviews ‘Fishing: How the Sea Fed Civilization’ by Brian Fagan. Many
Bio-Diversity Insect Armageddon: "The Fate of the World’s Insects Is Inseparable from Our Own" Unless we adopt rangeland and agricultural practices that respect biodiversity and reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides and herbicides, we face catastrophic insect “declines (which) will cascade onto ecosystem functioning and human well-being.” NOTE: This article was initially published to NYTimes.com on October 29, 2017 There is alarming
Conservation Happy New Year from Texas State Photographer Wyman Meinzer Last year’s greeting from Texas State Photographer Wyman Meinzer Warmest Wishes in 2016 from Wyman Meinzer on Vimeo.
