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Aoudad

A collection of 37 posts

Can Sheep Save the Planet?

"Invasion Biology"

Can Sheep Save the Planet?

Desertification is a fancy word for land that is turning to desert,” states Allan Savory in his quiet but inspirational form.

circle_ranch_drough_busters

"Invasion Biology"

Drought Busters: Restoring Desertified Desert Grasslands

We call the combination of wild animals, planned grazing, water harvesting, and Keyline subsoiling “Drought Busters”. Drought Busters is cheap, fast, poisons no plants, kills no animals, and increases the numbers and diversity of both. Drought Busters can’t make it rain, but it will make actual rain more and

Parts Of Big Bend National Park To Close For Removal Of Non-Native Sheep

Parts Of Big Bend National Park To Close For Removal Of Non-Native Sheep

Texas’ war on wildlife and biodiversity continues. CLICK HERE for the “Rest of the Story” on this insanity. NOTE: this article was originally published to National Parks Traveler’s Apple News Channel. It was written by By NPT Staff. A few areas of Big Bend National Park in Texas will

circle-ranch-video-wildlife-west-texas

"Invasion Biology"

Game Videos Spring 2015

These videos were taken at what we call Sheep Tank, a water point that overlooks one of our largest canyons. Many species share this water, with no visible conflict with each other, or harm to habitat.

The Resistance to Holistic Wildlife Management

"Invasion Biology"

The Resistance to Holistic Wildlife Management

Across the West as well as in Texas, agencies, universities, governmental and conservation organizations resist holistic wildlife and agricultural management practices. Most Western public grazing rules make holistic grazing very difficult if not impossible In this 5-minute video, range scientist Allan Savory discusses why this is so, and how this

aoudad_feature_sept2018

"Invasion Biology"

Aerial Shooting in Big Bend Park Spooks and Angers Hikers

On Texas’ public lands, helicopters are routinely used by bighorn sheep managers to kill ‘exotic’ animals and predators – often while counting game. This terrifies wildlife. Years of doing this has taught sheep, deer, elk and pronghorn to associate helicopters with mortal danger. This places extreme stress on animals – especially fawns

Supplemental Water and Feed for Desert Bighorn Sheep

"Invasion Biology"

Supplemental Water and Feed for Desert Bighorn Sheep

Years ago I read an article by a man in the Sierra Nevada of California whose mine was being closed by the feds. They said his mining operation was harming sheep populations. He said, no, he had operated for many years with no problem to sheep: the problem was increased

Book Review: ‘Inheritors of the Earth’ by Chris D. Thomas

"Invasion Biology"

Book Review: ‘Inheritors of the Earth’ by Chris D. Thomas

Here is better way of thinking about so-called invasive species. Ask yourself: How many invasive species have ever been eliminated? How much damage have we done to native plants, animals and our finances trying unsuccessfully to eliminate invasive species? What if, instead of “always trying to defend the losers,” we

circle_ranch_game_cameras_winter_2015

Animal Development

Circle Ranch Game Camera Videos

Wildlife videos from our high-desert mountains, captured in the winter of 2015.

Slideshow: Circle Ranch Wildlife, December 2016

"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

circle_ranch_bighorn_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Game Cameras - August 2016

The reason biodiversity is good not bad is because species are usually complimentary, not “competitive.” To be healthy, desert ranges need three things: (1) Large, concentrated migratory bison herds, or, cattle grazed to mimic bison’s migratory patterns; (2) a lot of predators of all sizes; and, (3) a high,

circle_ranch_texas_burro

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Game Cameras - July 2016

To be healthy, desert ranges need three things: (1) Large, concentrated migratory bison herds, or, cattle grazed to mimic bison’s migratory patterns; (2) a lot of predators of all sizes; and, (3) a high, diverse population of prey species. Remove any of these and the systems collapse. Most wildlife

circle_ranch_cameras_summer_2016

"Invasion Biology"

Early Summer 2016 - Game Cameras

Healthy ranges need: (1) Big nomadic grazers (bison or cows under planned grazing), (2) abundant predators and (3) lots of prey numbers and kinds. Take any one of these out and the system collapses. The systems’ need for biodiversity is a physiological fact, not a social concept. For 10-years in

Mid-Summer 2016 Game Cameras

Animal Development

Mid-Summer 2016 Game Cameras

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

circle_ranch_game_camera_2016_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Winter 2016 Game Photos

A basic disagreement between Big Wildlife and holistic thinkers like Aldo Leopold is whether multiple species compete with each other or compliment each other. Another is whether predators like wolves, lions, coyotes & bobcats harm prey species, or, as Aldo Leopold observed, benefit them by getting rid of sick animals

Circle Ranch Game Cameras - Winter 2015

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Game Cameras - Winter 2015

Below you will see many wildlife photos showing our mixed species sharing range and water. Note the areas frequented by different species. Elk do well everywhere, particularly in the desert, which means elk are potential rescue species for empty deserts. Bulls would be worth $10,000 – $15,000 if allowed

circle_ranch_book_review_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Book Review: The Pseudoscience of Invasive Species "Biology"

“Competitive” or cooperative? Bighorn and aoudad sharing range and water at Circle Ranch. No science supports the claim that aoudad harm wild animals and plants. “When native species drop mulch, fix nitrogen, attract new pollinators, or create shade, it’s called beneficial. When an exotic does exactly the same, it’

how Holistic Management is beginning to spread in Chihuahua.

"Invasion Biology"

Happy New Year from Circle Ranch

“Soil is… as it were… a direct caress of God” – Pope Francis, 2015 Carbon Underground Pope Francis Climate Rally DC 1080 Hi Res from The Carbon Underground on Vimeo. “Land, then, is not merely soil; it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils, plants, and animals.

Circle Ranch Game Cameras: Using Biodiversity to Restore Desert Grasslands

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Game Cameras: Using Biodiversity to Restore Desert Grasslands

Many wildlife “managers” try to eliminate most of the species pictured below to increase bighorn, or some other favored species like deer or pronghorn. Their actions harm the animals they intend to help because biodiversity is necessary for healthy wild animals and habitat. Until our practices are based on this

sa_express_news_deer_wasting_lavaca

"Invasion Biology"

Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Lavaca County Deer; Ranch Quarantined

Obvious responses to CWD are blocked by the economic interdependence of universities, agencies, conservation organizations and legislatures with the agricultural and agrochemical giants. Decisions within this coalition of special interests are often based internal politics, turf fights and cronyism. Another block is the crippling dogma of invasive species “biology”, which

circle_ranch_west_texas_ram_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Animal and Plant Biodiversity Restoring Desert Habitats at Circle Ranch

A basic doctrine of wildlife “management” is that nature is under attack by thousands of “invasive” plant and animal species which “compete” with “natives” to “harm ecosystem health.” Analysis of the knowledge supporting this ideology exposes invasive species biology as pseudo-science: biological bigotry, dignified with empirically-hollow buzzwords. Efforts to eradicate

state_of_texas_culls_35_deer

"Invasion Biology"

State Culls 35 Deer From Area Ranch to Test For Chronic Wasting Disease

The dirty little secret of Chronic Wasting Disease is that it was created in a government-funded Colorado wildlife experimental facility: the Front Range Experimental Station in Fort Collins Colorado. While there is collective amnesia about what was being done to these confined animals, there is no doubt this is where

circle_ranch_game_cameras_west_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Habitat Restoration: Opposing Assumptions about Wildlife Biodiversity

Pictured below are 10 species of animals photographed in our mountains at Circle Ranch during Spring 2015. Conventional wildlife “management” says six of these species should be removed as they are assumed to “harm” desert bighorn sheep, desert mule deer, pronghorn and their habitat. CLICK HERE FOR 75 PHOTOS: Diablo

circle-ranch-video-game-cameras

Animal Development

Pronghorn, Desert Bighorn & Lambs at Circle Ranch in Spring 2015

Three short videos of pronghorn and bighorn taken late winter and early spring 2015. We have lots of both. Mother bighorn and last year’s lamb. Pronghorn herd gathering at water. Bighorn ewes and lamb. Circle Ranch’s recipe for abundant pronghorn and bighorn: 1. Encourage animal biodiversity. 2. Periodically,

circle_ranch_cats_feature

"Invasion Biology"

2.7 Million Creatures Killed Last Year in U.S.'s Secretive War on Animals

Publicly-funded wildlife eradications are a big surprise to many people. NOTE:orginially appeared on TheDodo.com Nearly 7,400 wild animals were slaughtered every single day on average across the U.S. last year — not by hunters or poachers, but by a government agency whose stated mission is “to resolve