"Invasion Biology" - Pitchstone Waters (Page 14)

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"Invasion Biology"

Since the beginning of time, species have spread and contracted their ranges. A variety of factors including weather and climate influenced their spread and movement. Arguably, one of the most important modern factors is human influence.

Actually Raising Beef Is Good for the Planet

"Invasion Biology"

Actually Raising Beef Is Good for the Planet

Despite environmentalists’ worries, cattle don’t guzzle water or cause hunger—and can help fight climate change. People who advocate eating less beef often argue that producing it hurts the environment. Cattle, we are told, have an outsize ecological footprint: They guzzle water, trample plants and soils, and consume precious

Invasive Species Eradications: "The Rest of the Story"

"Invasion Biology"

Invasive Species Eradications: "The Rest of the Story"

If you have bought into Big Wildlife’s ‘invasive species crisis,’ and believe that eradicating and poisoning of ‘invasive’ species of plants and wild animals are based on science, or benefit ecosystems including wildlife and habitat, you need to hear “The Rest of the Story.” David I. Theodoropoulos directs the

Circle Ranch Game Cameras: May 2014

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Game Cameras: May 2014

“Competition” or Cooperation? Here are links to some great pictures of many species sharing water and habitat at the Circle Ranch. Several of the species photographed such as the aoudad and bighorn pictured above, are said by game ‘managers’ to be incompatible. ‘Exotics’, these ‘experts’ say, harm bighorn, deer, pronghorn,

The Feral Pig "Problem" Part V

"Invasion Biology"

The Feral Pig "Problem" Part V

The Feral Pig Problem – Part V: Sources and Comments In addition to the specific links included in each installment, which I have not repeated, I have included a list of books below and remarked on what I found important about them. Across the board, they have informed my thinking on

The Feral Pig “Problem” - Part IV

"Invasion Biology"

The Feral Pig “Problem” - Part IV

Part I: Background Part II: A Brief History of Pigs, Pork and People Part III: The Growth of “Efficient” Factory Farms Part IV: Meat Factory Pollution and Public Health * Meat Factory Pollution and Water Pollution * Comparative Wholesomeness * Free Range Pork Compared * Mad at Our Money: Economic Value of Free Range

The Feral Pig “Problem” - Part III

"Invasion Biology"

The Feral Pig “Problem” - Part III

Part I: Background Part II: A Brief History of Pigs, Pork and People Part III: The Growth of “Efficient” Factory Farms * Animal Cruelty * Big Pig’s Version * The “Rest of the Story” from Forbes Magazine * Pig Factories are Filthy Part IV: Meat Factory Pollution and Public Health Part V: References

The Feral Pig “Problem” - Part II

"Invasion Biology"

The Feral Pig “Problem” - Part II

Part I: Background Part II: A Brief History of Pigs, Pork and People * Free-Range Pigs in Texas * The Garbage Pig * Pig Prejudice * Big Food and the Garbage Pig Part III: The Growth of “Efficient” Factory Farms Part IV: Meat Factory Pollution and Public Health Part V: References and Comments Author’

The Feral Pig “Problem” - Part 1

"Invasion Biology"

The Feral Pig “Problem” - Part 1

Background * The Pig “Problem” and “Solution” According to Big Wildlife * The Root Problem: Hogging the Profits II: A Brief History of Pigs, Pork and People III: The Growth of “Efficient” Factory Farms IV: Meat Factory Pollution and Public Health V: References and Comments Author’s Note: Of the many wildlife

The Feral Pig “Problem” - Introduction

"Invasion Biology"

The Feral Pig “Problem” - Introduction

Of the many wildlife problems we struggle with in Texas, feral pigs are one of the most difficult. This five-part series examines this pig “problem.” It asks some common sense questions, offers plain talk about the pig raising ethics, pork safety, and feral pig eradications and suggests solutions that in

Reversing Wildlife Extinctions? The Mammoth Cometh

"Invasion Biology"

Reversing Wildlife Extinctions? The Mammoth Cometh

Here is an example of a desirable form of genetic manipulation: repairing some of the damage humans have done to biodiversity, backfilling empty niches that make “species invasion” inevitable. There are many ways this could go wrong, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to restore some of what has been

Swan Song: New York’s Wildlife Bureaucrats Intend to Eradicate Wild Swans

"Invasion Biology"

Swan Song: New York's Wildlife Bureaucrats Intend to Eradicate Wild Swans

NOTE: this article originally appeared online at WSJ.com on January 20, 2014 New York wildlife officials are proposing to eliminate wild populations of non-native mute swans under a 10-year management plan that calls for shooting the birds, sterilizing them and destroying their eggs. But culling programs have drawn criticism.

Panel Says Federal Wolf Plan Used Unproven Wildlife Science

"Invasion Biology"

Panel Says Federal Wolf Plan Used Unproven Wildlife Science

It’s not that agencies intentionally misrepresent their science. They sincerely believe opinions shared within the agency are scientific by definition. NOTE: Article originally appeared in San Antonio Express News on February 7, 2014 (via Associated Press) BILLINGS, Mont. — A proposal to lift federal protections for gray wolves across most

circle_ranch_education_grades_f_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Bad News for Range and Wildlife Science: An “F” Grade for America’s Elite Colleges

American Council of Trustees and Alumni vice president of policy Michael Poliakoff on the state of the country’s most prestigious liberal arts colleges. NOTE: this originally appeared on WSJ Live Online on 1/28/2014 America’s Colleges Flunk Out If we wonder why our wildlife management practices have

Attacking Biodiversity on Texas' Public Lands: Wild Longhorns May be Nearing the End of the Trail in Park

"Invasion Biology"

Attacking Biodiversity on Texas' Public Lands: Wild Longhorns May be Nearing the End of the Trail in Park

NOTE: Story originally appeared in the SA Express News,authored by John MacCormack, October 23, 2013. PRESIDIO — When the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department bought the Big Bend Ranch from Houston oilman Robert Anderson in 1988, it acquired 215,000 acres of high desert wilderness complete with an extinct volcano,

New Danger to Wildlife: USDA Gives Green Light to 2,4-D Resistant GM Crops

"Invasion Biology"

New Danger to Wildlife: USDA Gives Green Light to 2,4-D Resistant GM Crops

NOTE: this post originally appeared on SustainablePulse.com – January 3rd, 2014 The USDA has issued a draft statement essentially giving the green light to the marketing, sale and planting of GM corn and soybeans resistant to the hazardous herbicide 2,4-D. Dow Chemical’s GM corn will trigger a huge

Petition Targets ‘Rogue’ Killings by Wildlife Services

"Invasion Biology"

Petition Targets ‘Rogue’ Killings by Wildlife Services

NOTE: Article initially appeared in the Washington Post on December 15th, 2013. Darryl Fears They say U.S. critter assassins work in secret, quietly laying traps, lacing food with poison, sniping at targets from helicopters. Few people know exactly how the hits go down; the methods are largely hidden. What’

Good News for Wildlife and Habitat: Non-GMO Corn Hybrids Smash GMO Varieties in Illinois Trials

"Invasion Biology"

Good News for Wildlife and Habitat: Non-GMO Corn Hybrids Smash GMO Varieties in Illinois Trials

NOTE: Post Originally appeared on Sustainable Pulse November 21, 2013 Corn hybrid trials in Illinois have been harvested, and results are showing Non-GMO corn hybrids performing as well or better than GMO corn hybrids. Spectrum Premium Non-GMO hybrids, used in the testing, produced 3 to 10 more bushels per acre

Aoudad, The Bogus Boogeyman

"Invasion Biology"

Aoudad, The Bogus Boogeyman

Eradication Science or Eradication Snake Oil? This piece asks common sense questions about the increasing use of wild animal eradication as a primary conservation tool, and about the foundations on which these practices rest: Why have eradications become so prevalent? Do eradications advance conservation? Are eradications based on science or

New Bison War: Should Buffalo Be Reintroduced to the West?

"Invasion Biology"

New Bison War: Should Buffalo Be Reintroduced to the West?

Our neighbor Dr. Jimmy Labaume passed along this piece on bison. Circle had a great little herd which escaped, got involved in a wreck, and got shot up! It all wound up in a lawsuit. Bison are cool but uncontrollable! Laura says “No more buffalo!” “This is a bit long

Creosote Bush: An Unassuming But Ancient Form of Life All Around Us

"Invasion Biology"

Creosote Bush: An Unassuming But Ancient Form of Life All Around Us

Though sometimes regarded as a nuisance by residents of the arid Southwest, the creosote bush is a complex and fascinating plant – and creosote colonies constitute some of the oldest organisms known to inhabit the planet. The shrub-like plant’s scientific name is Larrea tridentata, and it is known by many

Burros and Bio-Diversity: The Rest of the Story

"Invasion Biology"

Burros and Bio-Diversity: The Rest of the Story

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has slated wild burros for eradication at Big Bend Ranch State Park, as part of a general program to remove all “exotics” from all state-owned land it manages in far-West Texas, under the belief that burros and several other species:(1) do not “belong”

TPWD Habitat Survey at Circle Ranch

"Invasion Biology"

TPWD Habitat Survey at Circle Ranch

In late fall of 2010 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department conducted a habitat survey at Circle Ranch, to see if our many cattle and other species including so called “exotics” were harming habitat through “competition”. As confirmed by this report, TPWD biologists found the opposite to be true. It turns