Bio-Diversity

Biodiversity = sustainability. To date scientists have described 1.7 million of the world's species of animals, plants, insects and algae—and they’ve not all been described…or discovered. The number, while vast, is less important than the point it makes: nature requires diversity.

Bio-Diversity

City of Spokane Uses 200 Goats for Fire Prevention

Quoting Spokane’s Parks Director, ” (Goat grazing) is an economically and ecologically friendly way to manage brush density.”   NOTE: this article was originally published to KHQ.com on May 14, 2021.   SPOKANE, Wash. – Starting Friday, about 200 goats will be on the job to help reduce fire risk in natural

"Invasion Biology"

Utah Mountain Goat Statewide Management Plan

“The National Parks Service is on a mission to eradicate wild goats from Teton and Yellowstone Parks, based on “competition”. Utah disagrees with their premise.   Quoting Utah’s goat management plan, “Even where both (bighorn and goats) are present, resource partitioning (competition) appears to minimize conflicts (Laundre 1994). Specifically, there

Bio-Diversity

A Death of Ethics: Is Hunting Destroying Itself?

Quoting the article below, “Hunting historians today say Theodore Roosevelt, as a student of science, would embrace the knowledge that touts predators’ important ecological role. They say he would be opposed to predator-killing contests and be appalled by the practice of running down wolves and coyotes on snowmobiles.   NOTE: this

Bear

Woman Is Killed in Montana Bear Attack

Limited bear hunting would make bears fearful of humans. Increased fear would help prevent bear attacks like the one described below. A healthy respect for people would also make poaching bears harder.   Because hunters have always provided the lion’s share of financial support for wildlife conservation and restoration, we

Bio-Diversity

Wolves Scare Deer and Reduce Auto Collisions 24%, Study Says

Wolves reduce deer-automobile collisions. This saves more money than proven wolf depredation costs in livestock losses.   NOTE: this article was originally published to Click2Houston.com’s Apple News Channel.com on May 24, 2021. It was written by Christina Larson.   Scientists found that an unconventional way of reducing the frequency

"Invasion Biology"

Wild Horses: Analysis of The Issues and a Novel Science-supported Solution

Quoting the author of the article below, “The current American wild horse management paradigm fails economically and ecologically. Despite decades of activity, the wild horse advocacy has had virtually no meaningful effect on the plight of American wild horses. And, unfortunately, they have offered no plan that is genetically, ecologically

Bighorn

Idaho's Bighorn Sheep

Idaho’s big bighorn rams in the Big Lost and Hells Canyon.

Bio-Diversity

WILD About Mountain Goats

Idaho’s’ mountain goats are adapted to living in rugged, remote areas, so it is natural that the mountain goat would appear mysterious. But this harsh habitat is also their defense.

Bio-Diversity

Wild Horses and Donkeys Dig Wells in the Desert, Providing Water for Wildlife

Horses and burros evolved in North America, where they and their ancestors were present for 50-million years, far-longer than any large ‘native’ species except pronghorn.   As reported in the article below, we now are learning that horses improve the environment just like their ancestors did.   What is surprising is that

"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.

Bio-Diversity

Endangered Science

“As discussed below, of the many unscientific decisions of wildlife “management”,  predator eradications are probably the worst.   NOTE: this article was originally published to HuffPost.com. It was part of a collection written by Camilla Fox, Executive Director, Project Coyote. She is also a contributor to HuffPost.com and the

Bio-Diversity

Using Cows to Improve Wildlife Habitat and Increase Pronghorn

This is the second in a series about how domestic animals like cattle can help wildlife and habitat in desert grasslands.  Our first introduced Cows and Quail, Albuquerque-based Holistic Management International’s range and wildlife program which focused on quail.   Note: Originally published on this blog in 2012. Written by

Bears

In Montana, Bears and Wolves Become Part of the Culture Wars

All sides of this debate want similar outcomes: Healthy habitat and wildlife. We cannot get these unless we also consider the people who live with these animals, and their livelihoods.   Anyone who thinks or acts as if nature, people and money are separate and/or independent is part of the

Aspen Forests

Aspen Forests Provide Great Habitat for Ruffed Grouse

“Ruffed grouse – and all species –  do better in mixed (partially-logged) forests.   NOTE: this post was originally published to Instagram and the Ruffed Grouse Society page on February 24, 2021.     View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Ruffed Grouse Society (@ruffedgrousesociety)

Animal Migration

Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States, Volume 1

In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey completed analyses necessary to map mule deer corridors, stopovers, routes and winter ranges in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. A total of 26 corridors, 16 migration routes, 25 stop-overs, and 9 winter ranges were mapped across these states and are included in

Bio-Diversity

Addressing Brucellosis Will Help Ranchers and Wildlife

Quoting the PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH CENTER (PERC) article below, “Because ranchers bear the cost of brucellosis—and the stress of the very real possibility of transmission of the disease—they are understandably reluctant to have elk on their land, which brings wildlife into closer contact with their livestock. As

Bio-Diversity

Working Dogs - Farm To Fork Wyoming

Highly attuned to their partnership with man, livestock herding and guardian dogs are powerful and essential forces in the balance of nature and predation for today’s Wyoming rancher.

Bio-Diversity

The Gray Wolf Leads the Way for Other Endangered Species

“Common sense advice on how best to advance wolf restorations, from the PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH CENTER of Bozeman Montana. PERC is the home of free market environmentalism.   NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.org and the Duluth News Tribune on November 9, 2020. It was written by

"Wolves"

Washington State to Manage Wolves Within Borders After Fed Action

Quoting the article below, “Wolves were wiped out in Washington by the 1930s at the behest of the livestock industry. The animals began migrating back into the state from Idaho and British Columbia early in this century. Wolf recovery is popular with many urban residents of the state, but not

Bio-Diversity

US Officials: Climate Change Not a Threat to Rare Wolverine

Contrary to the popular narrative, a slightly warmer climate, particularly in areas that are usually covered by snow and ice, expands the habitable area for many species.   Furthermore, endangered species listings should not be regulatory one-way streets. As species recover, onerous restrictions should be relaxed. These rules are often straight

"Wolves"

Using Wolves as First Responders Against a Deadly Brain Disease

Some scientists say that the predators are essential to curbing the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease because they pick off weak deer.

Bio-Diversity

Trumpeter Swan Cygnets Released at Yellowstone to Boost Population

“The trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is a species of swan found in North America. The heaviest living bird native to North America, it is also the largest existing species of waterfowl, with a wingspan of 6′ 2″ to 8′ 2”.  By 1933, fewer than 70 wild trumpeters were known to

"Invasion Biology"

Burned, Beetle-ravaged Wyoming Forest Expected to Flourish

As demonstrated across the West, refusing to “manage” forests is a powerful management practice. While the practice of keeping human hands off of forest resources may be well-intentioned, it is detrimental and destructive. The “hands off” management policy has led to degraded forest conditions, which despite what we are being

Bio-Diversity

Fighting Wildfires With Fire

Due to well-intentioned “hands off” forest management practices – often intended to help wildlife – our national forests are accumulating highly flammable understory material faster than nature can cycle it away.   The well-meaning prescription set forth in the article below is controlled burns. Based on our 50-years of range and forest experience

Bio-Diversity

Painting Eyes On The Butts Of Cattle Surprisingly Effective At Scaring Off Would-Be Predators

Here is another example of low-tech, non-lethal ways to protect cattle from predators.     NOTE: this article was originally published to IFLScience’s Apple News Channel on August 7, 2020. It was written by Katy Evans.   Researchers have come up with a novel way to protect the lives of livestock, lions,