"Invasion Biology" - Pitchstone Waters (Page 2)

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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.

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"Invasion Biology"

Drought Busters 101 : A 21-Minute Video on Desert Grassland Restoration

“Drought Busters” is an inexpensive, quick, physiologically and economically sustainable method of habitat and wildlife restoration. We call it Drought Busters because it increases effective rainfall by rebuilding soil fertility and the soil’s ability to absorb and store water. This 21-minute video explains Drought Busters, and our experience on

At the Foot of a Melting Glacier in Peru, Llamas Helped Revitalize the Land

"Invasion Biology"

At the Foot of a Melting Glacier in Peru, Llamas Helped Revitalize the Land

Llamas are camelids, the family of animals that also includes Bactrian and Dromedary camels, vicunas, alpacas and guanacos. These animals evolved in North America. Llamas and their ancestors were present in North America for 40 million years. Together with 80 percent of existing North American genera, llamas and their cousins

When Horses Migrated to Eurasia

"Invasion Biology"

When Horses Migrated to Eurasia

According to the paper and article below, horses – which evolved in North America – traveled back and forth across the land bridge between present day Russia and Alaska several times over the last million years. Horses on both sides of the land bridge evolved into distinct species, which then crossed again,

Attacking Aoudad on Behalf of Bighorn

"Invasion Biology"

Attacking Aoudad on Behalf of Bighorn

NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on February 6th, 2017 The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) say aoudad harm desert mule deer, pronghorn and desert bighorn, and habitat, because they (1) eat plants, (2) drink water and (3) do well. In

Desperate to Rid Catalina of Invasive Deer, Officials Propose Bold Helicopter Hunt

"Invasion Biology"

Desperate to Rid Catalina of Invasive Deer, Officials Propose Bold Helicopter Hunt

It’s hard to name a single wildlife “management” practice pursued by the big conservation bureaucracies that does not involve the wholesale killing out of entire wildlife populations. Their glaring management failures are blamed on climate change and ‘invasive’ species, in this case mule deer and bison! The definition of

Healing the Land with One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts

"Invasion Biology"

Healing the Land with One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts

Healing the Land with One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts” is an inspirational short film that discusses regenerative agricultural practices on a Georgia farm. This dying farm was regenerated using multi-species grazing in which all the animals were moved according to a plan that got them to the right place…at

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"Invasion Biology"

Wolves Culling Deer Herds

Predators including wolves can cull weak or sick deer, elk and caribou much better than any wildlife “manager”. This makes predators the best means of removing CWD-infected animals from our wild herds. Story available here -> http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150105-wolves-hunt-caribou Note: this post was originally published

Texas Testing New Feral Hog Poison in Race to Control Invasive Species

"Invasion Biology"

Texas Testing New Feral Hog Poison in Race to Control Invasive Species

The widespread use of herbicides and pesticides (poisons) for wildlife “management” goes back to at least 1835 with the invention of strychnine. For about 180 years now, wolves, coyotes, foxes, badgers, cougar, bear, bobcats, skunks, prairie dogs, birds, insects, fish and plants to name a few have been increasingly subjected

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"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

Examples of Grassland Restoration – Allan Savory – Tufts University

"Invasion Biology"

Examples of Grassland Restoration - Allan Savory - Tufts University

Excerpted from Allan Savory’s presentation on January 25, 2013 at Tufts University’s Fletcher School, this segment highlights examples of how Holistic Management restores grasslands from land that’s degraded to desert. This innovative, natural, and simple idea mimics Nature by using careful management of livestock to stimulate the

Wildlife Killing Contests - The Movie

"Invasion Biology"

Wildlife Killing Contests - The Movie

The polite and restrained movie appearing below is not anti-hunting. In fact, it should be mandatory viewing for all hunters and wildlife lovers. While most of the contests target predators, each shot fired damages the legacy—and future—of ethical hunting. Why? These contests have nothing to do with wildlife

One Creature Changed the Countryside and Our Lives More Than Any Other. Meet the Horses That Built Britain

"Invasion Biology"

One Creature Changed the Countryside and Our Lives More Than Any Other. Meet the Horses That Built Britain

As discussed in the article below, horses evolved in the Americas, and crossed to Europe and Asia during previous ice ages. Domestic horses are central to human civilizations – including those of North America. NOTE: this article was originally published to BBC Countryfile’s Apple News Channel. It was written by

Fuel, Fire, and Wild Horses

"Invasion Biology"

Fuel, Fire, and Wild Horses

Wildfire continues to devastate the American West at increasing rates. According to some, the plan that could combat the danger of forest fire lies in the complicated history and present role of the wild horse. Naturalist rancher William E. Simpson II, Michael Perez, and Pulitzer Prize winning author David Philipps

Everybody Knew the Invasive Grass of Maui Posed a Deadly Fire Threat, but Few Acted

"Invasion Biology"

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. NOTE: this article was originally published

PG&E Scraps Tree-Trimming Program Once Seen as Key to Fire Prevention

"Invasion Biology"

PG&E Scraps Tree-Trimming Program Once Seen as Key to Fire Prevention

As discussed below, California’s big electric company says it can’t control wildfires with chainsaws. As discussed for years on this blog, the ONLY cost effective and sustainable way to reduce wildfires is with animal impact from wild and domestic animals. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.

Markets for Conservation: Reining in the Wild Horse Crisis

"Invasion Biology"

Markets for Conservation: Reining in the Wild Horse Crisis

There are more wild horses and burros on the public landscape allotted to them than that range can sustain. Beautiful as they are, these animals are degrading the range and they compete for water and forage with other wildlife. The result of too many horses on too little range is

The Role of Ruminants in Environmental Health

"Invasion Biology"

The Role of Ruminants in Environmental Health

An excellent video from the Savory Center for Holistic Management, in Zimbabwe. The thinking described is largely missing from the management of our public ranges, forests, and national parks, even though ALL the physiological elements described apply within every environment.

Fishing and Managing Idaho Alpine Lakes

"Invasion Biology"

Fishing and Managing Idaho Alpine Lakes

Very few high mountain lakes had fish before stocking began in the 1940s. NOTE: this post originally was published to this site on December 29, 2020

The Late Pleistocene of the Mojave Desert, the Peopling of the Americas, and Terminal Pleistocene Extinctions

"Invasion Biology"

The Late Pleistocene of the Mojave Desert, the Peopling of the Americas, and Terminal Pleistocene Extinctions

“As discussed in the paper below, recent discoveries indicate that humans arrived in North America thousands of years earlier than previously thought. If so, this earlier dating of the beginning of human hunting of American wildlife would explain the human role in the catastrophic loss of wildlife known as the

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"Invasion Biology"

Horse Nations

Coming home: As discussed below, “Horses evolved millions of years ago in North America and, after spreading to Eurasia and Africa, went extinct in their homeland at the end of the last ice age. Along with nearly 40 other species of megafauna, from saber-toothed tigers and mammoths to camels, they

Early Dispersal of Domestic Horses Into the Great Plains and Northern Rockies

"Invasion Biology"

RESEARCH ARTICLE ON HORSES: Early Dispersal of Domestic Horses Into the Great Plains and Northern Rockies

Are horses native to, or so-called “invasive exotics“ in North America? As discussed below, “Horses were deeply integrated into Indigenous (American Indian) societies before the arrival of 18th-century (1700’s) European observers, as reflected in herd management, ceremonial practices, and culture. “This study established that Indigenous peoples were living and

Dropping the Fences, Episode 2: RAIN

"Invasion Biology"

Dropping the Fences, Episode 2: RAIN

After reading the signs, Johnny’s predictions of good rain come true after seven years of drought. Within weeks the veld is transformed in a great renewal as seeds that have lain dormant for years come to life. It’s time for Veronica to learn more about regenerative agriculture with

My Rancher Parents Hate Wolves. I Took Them on a Wolf-Watching Tour in Yellowstone to Change Their Minds

"Invasion Biology"

My Rancher Parents Hate Wolves. I Took Them on a Wolf-Watching Tour in Yellowstone to Change Their Minds

The wolf debate out West is driven in large part by ignorance – on both sides. A morning spent with Wolf Trackers would greatly help the parties to find common ground for compromise. In order to preserve and restore wildlife and wildlife habitat, we must make these decisions based on giving

Tasmanian Devils Return to Mainland Australia for First Time in 3000 Years

"Invasion Biology"

Tasmanian Devils Return to Mainland Australia for First Time in 3000 Years

Here is an interesting article about how on the Australian mainland, Australian wildlife managers are reintroducing an animal wiped out thousands of years ago by human impact. Reintroducing a native animal thousands of years later (the Aussies describe that as an “Ecological blink of an eye”) to restore biodiversity and

To Prevent Huge Wildfires, Australia Leans More on Indigenous Experience

"Invasion Biology"

To Prevent Huge Wildfires, Australia Leans More on Indigenous Experience

“As discussed in the article below, in Australia as in the US, the ‘natural systems’ found by Europeans were actually human artifacts, formed and shaped by thousands of years of human impact. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on February 16, 2023. It was written by Mike