Articles

All our thoughts, opinions and discussions.

Antimicrobials

Ag Chemicals Wreaking Havoc on Wildlife Worldwide

As the article below discusses, the increasing use of herbicides, pesticides and antibiotics commonly used in industrial ranching and farming is catastrophic for habitat, wildlife and fisheries.   Regenerative agricultural methods can greatly reduce—and often eliminate—the use of these toxic agents. Subsidizing the practices that eliminate these poisons is

Bio-Diversity

The Marvelous Migrations of Greater Yellowstone

Pitchstone Waters Ranch is five miles southwest of the southwest corner of Yellowstone Park, surrounded on three sides by national forest. Our highest priority is addressing the issues set forth in the excellent report below. It was published by the Property and Environmental Research Center (PERC), a free-market environmental and

Conservation

Hunting a Bull Elk in Colorado

Harvesting an old, broken warrior of a bull.

feedlot-finished beef

Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better For The Planet? Here's The Science

Quoting the authors of the article below, “The grass-fed movement is based on a large idea, one known as regenerative agriculture or holistic management. It holds that grazing ruminant populations are key to a healthy ecosystem.”   As they explain, raising beef this holistic way is better for the planet, kinder

Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2020

From your friends at Pitchstone Waters Ranch, Happy New Year 2020!   Fall River Granddaughters

birds

Birds Are Vanishing From North America

This is not about “climate change”.  It’s about agricultural chemicals. NOTE: this article was originally published to NYTimes.com on January 13, 2019. It was written by Karen Weintraub.   The number of birds in the United States and Canada has declined by 3 billion, or 29 percent, over the

christmas

Merry Christmas from Pitchstone Waters

“A Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, every one!”

corruption

The Money Farmers: How Oligarchs and Populists Milk the E.U. for Millions

Europe is a top U.S. trading partner in a so-called “free trade” system.  Yet, Europe, in effect, does not allow market access for America’s agricultural products. Europe’s closed markets are only one aspect of the E.U.’s corrupt agricultural policies and the agencies that promote and

Bio-Diversity

The Elwha’s Living Laboratory: Lessons From the World’s Largest Dam-removal Project

“Quoting the article below: “A river can be restored. They are resilient and we know what they need.”   NOTE: this article was originally published to The Revelator on October 1, 2018. It was written by Tara Lohan.   Two dams removed from Washington’s Elwha River were branded as salmon-restoration projects,

"Wolves"

Two Bears Brawl in the Middle of a Highway as a Wolf Watches Quietly from a Distance

“Fighting grizzlies. NOTE: this article was originally published to People.com on September 24, 2019. It was written by Robyn Merrett. Facebook user Cari McGillivray  CLICK HERE: shared the frightening moment on Friday, explaining, “Don’t normally post on here but thought I’d share this incredibly rare and amazing

Animal Development

Managing for Better Habitat Works. Culling Doesn’t.

For decades now, state agencies, universities and wildlife managers have urged culling of so-called “inferior” bucks from herds in order to improve genetics and produce bigger trophies. Since the early 1970s, belief in the effectiveness of culling has become so widely-held it is now considered common “knowledge.”   Small-antlered “management” bucks

carbon-sequestration

How Long Before These Salmon Are Gone? ‘Maybe 20 Years’

The eight dams discussed in the article below are artifacts of a well-intentioned, big-government mega-project that backfired. On the Columbia and Snake rivers, this mindset wiped out a 60-million fish salmon run. This massive run included the largest king salmon in the world with many weighing more than100 pounds apiece,

grizzly mortalities

Montana Hunter Reports Killing Grizzly Bear in Self-Defense

Events like these are reduced where bear hunting in some form is permitted. This is  because bear hunting makes bears fearful of humans. Limited hunting of bears in Montana has been stopped by activist wildlifers and judges, acting against the advice of state wildlife agencies.   Now, the hunters mentioned in

bear attacks

Wildlife Bosses Spike Mandatory Bear Spray Carry

Quoting from the article below, “The problem is grizzly bears lost their fear of humans.”   Darn right they have: Limited bear hunting is the obvious answer to this problem. Counterintuitively, the most dangerous places for bears is where bear hunting is prohibited. This is dangerous for bears because it emboldens

"Invasion Biology"

How Feral Hogs Hurt The Environment

Quoting from the article below, “But the scientific consensus today is that in North America, feral pigs are a growing threat to both ecosystems and the economy.”   The author continues, “Interestingly, in their native range in Europe and Asia, pigs do not cause as much ecological damage. In fact, some

Bio-Diversity

Restoring Forests Could Help Put a Brake on Global Warming, Study Finds

We can disagree about the causes, extent or consequences of so-called global warming, and still acknowledge that great damage is being done to grasslands and forests by human impact. We can and should address the ongoing damage, even though we might disagree on other climate issues.   The best way to

bear hunting

Fourth Montana Hunter Attacked by a Grizzly Bear in 10 Days

The safest places shared by bears and humans are those where bear hunting in some form is permitted because bear hunting makes bears fearful of humans.   Counterintuitively, the most dangerous places for bears is where bear hunting is prohibited. This is dangerous for bears because it emboldens them. Aggressive bears

American wilderness areas

Wild Horse Fire Brigade: Lessons in Rebalancing North American Ecosystems by Rewilding Equids

In North America, plants and animals including horses coevolved over many millions of years. But, around 10,000 BC, horses disappeared from their original home likely because of early Native American hunting.   Meanwhile, horses had crossed out of America over the Bering Strait’s land bridge. In this way, America’

Animals

How Wildlife Bridges Over Highways Make Animals—And People—Safer

“These remarkable structures are restoring wildlife migrations.     NOTE: this article was originally published to NationalGeographic.com on April 16, 2019. It was written by Starre Vartan.   Roaring traffic doesn’t stop big mammals like moose and bears from crossing highways—nor does it keep myriad smaller creatures from being squished

Bio-Diversity

The Bugs We Can’t Live Without

“As discussed below, “Without insects, the world’s populations of larger insectivorous species like birds, bats and freshwater fish would simply collapse”. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on June 20, 2019. It was written by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson.   Insect populations are in dramatic decline, and the consequences

Conservation

The Rangeland Analysis Platform

“This innovative platform marries Landsat satellite imagery with thousands of on-the-ground vegetation measurements. NOTE: this content below is originally published to Rangeland App’s Home Page,.   The Rangeland Analysis Platform is an innovative online mapping tool that can be used by anyone—no fees or registration required! This free tool

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

Rethinking the North American Wildlife Model

Why not seek an economic basis for wildlife conservation? Quoting the authors of the article below, “If we are to have success with a North American Wildlife Model during the 21st century, then our solutions must evolve too.”   NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.org on June 19,

"Invasion Biology"

Lessons From the Prairie

A Land-Management Legend Offers 50 Years of Soil-Nourishing Wisdom.   NOTE: this article originally appeared in the September edition of Acres magazine. It was written by Tracy Frisch.

"Invasion Biology"

How to Let Grow

“How do we “rewild” areas where the native species are now extinct? In England, they use “exotic” species as substitutes. This common sense would collide with so-called “invasive species biology” in most of the US. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on September 27, 2019. It was

Bio-Diversity

A Deer Migration You Have to See to Believe | National Geographic

Researchers have only recently found the longest large animal migration in the continental United States: mule deer migrate 150 miles in western Wyoming each year. As shown on the video’s map, one end of this migration terminates across the mountains not far from Pitchstone Waters.   And it’s no