Restoring Biodiversity - 9/5/2023
A tragic human / bear encounter near Yellowstone. Using carbon credits to encourage landowners to engage in better forestry practices. How do you teach a bear to stay off your property? And more.
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Here is what we’ve been reading, watching and writing about this week…
Articles
Everybody Knew the Invasive Grass of Maui Posed a Deadly Fire Threat, but Few Acted
As discussed below, the Lahaina fires were caused by excessive dry fuel accumulated over many years.
The only sustainable way to control this dangerous buildup is by grazing. But common sense is stopped by opposition to ‘non-native’ animals, which includes ANY animal that grazes.
Woman Is Killed by a Bear Near Yellowstone, Officials Say
As discussed below, grizzly populations are expanding, and human-grizzly conflicts are increasing.
This leads to more bears being killed by agencies removing problem bears, humans defending themselves, or unprovoked, illegal bear shooting by people who just plain fear them, and despise the agencies who they see as creators, not solvers, of bear problems.
Bears are smart, and like wolves, bears know to avoid humans where people hunt them. Limited bear hunting, and legalized bear hazing with bird shot would reduce the total bear mortality and make them safer to be around. In Alaska, any outfitter will say that limited hunting, and bird shot in the butt teaches bears to stay away from humans and saves hundreds of bears annually. In the Kamchatka Peninsula of Eastern Siberia, bears run like hell when they see people. – because the Russians hunt their bears. In Yellowstone by contrast, many bears come to see what’s on the menu.
In our misguided anti-hunting, ‘hands-off’ wildlife management dogma, we refuse to teach or threaten bears in any way whatsoever – until they get a death sentence.
Carbon Offset Market Opens to Small Southern Timberland Owners
Here is a good article about using carbon credits to encourage private landowners to engage in better forestry practices.
While most carbon credits are environmentally and economically dubious, if we insist on these subsidies, let’s direct them towards holistic practices that reduce fire hazards while improving soil fertility.
Videos
Pitchstone Waters’ Trespass Suppression Associate
How do you teach a bear to stay off your property? Have a look.
If a Tree Falls in the Forest…?
The Endangered Species Act has prevented 99% of listed species from going extinct, but only 2% of listed species have actually recovered. Property & Environment Research Center (PERC) believes we can do better.
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And that’s it - as always thank you..
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