"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.

"Invasion Biology"

Texas Elk and the North American Wildlife Conservation Model

For 150-years American conservationists have followed the the North American Wildlife Conservation Model. It has been beneficial for waterfowl and iconic big game species across the continent with the exception of elk in far-West Texas. Here on state-managed lands Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) bighorn sheep managers kill all

"Invasion Biology"

The Agriculture Of Hope: Climate Farmers Of North America

We can debate whether human impact contributes to climate change, but we cannot deny that human agricultural practices harm range and farm lands. These practices can be changed in ways that will restore the land, its profitability and conceivably, help the climate as well. NOTE: This post initially appeared on

"Invasion Biology"

How and Why Holistic Planned Grazing Can Restore Habitat and Ranch Income

This paper, authored by Texas A&M range scientist Richard Teague and colleague Matt Barnes, discusses what has worked best for planned graziers across the world, and why conventional range studies have been unable to analyze their results. The paper was published in the African Journal of Range &

"Invasion Biology"

Holistic Planned Grazing on Rangelands: Why the Gap Between Researcher Beliefs and Rancher Experience?

In this paper published in the Journal of Environmental Management, Texas A&M range scientists and their colleagues discuss why—70 years after the development of holistic planned grazing, and notwithstanding the positive experience reported by so many producers who use it—academicians and researchers remain closed to its

"Invasion Biology"

Hunting Moose in Canada to Save Caribou From Wolves

Wildlife interactions are often counterintuitive. When we oversimplify these unimaginably complex systems we do things that inadvertently damage wildlife and its habitat. NOTE: This post initially appeared on NYTimes.com on August 30, 2017 You like caribou. You like wolves. How do you preserve one without killing the other? Research

"Invasion Biology"

Planned Grazing and Deer

“Properly grazed cattle can improve deer health. Cattle herds can replace the big nomadic grazers with which animals and plants evolved. Plants and animals are symbiotic: Plants need animals as much as animals need plants. What helps plants helps all animals. Biodiversity of plants and animals is good. Multiple species

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Wildlife Cameras - Summer 2017

Every month we review 5,000 pictures and post a few of the most interesting. What is pictured here is biodiversity. Multiple species are complimentary – not competitive. Ranges need keystone grazers like bison or cattle, lots of predators and lots of prey species. Without all these, the systems come apart.

"Invasion Biology"

Are Wolves the Pronghorn's Best Friend?

Let’s look for a holistic solution to pronghorn decline in far-West Texas. As discussed in the article below, pronghorn fawn survival triples when wolves are present because wolves control the coyotes which otherwise kill the pronghorn fawns. Cattle removals, predator removals and so-called invasive species removals have drastically altered

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Mule Deer "Management": Does Culling Low-Point Desert Mule Deer Bucks Help or Harm the Herd and Its Genetics?

Culling Mule Deer – or whitetail – is scientifically unjustifiable, and does not improve herd genetics. Note: This post originally appeared on this blog in November 2014 Approach #1: Remove Cull Bucks to Improve Herd Genetics …Jerad Wayne Zachary, Deer Guide Dear Mr. Gill, I hope you are doing well. I just

"Invasion Biology"

California Condor Takes Flight in Wild After Near Extinction

The condor “once patrolled the sky from Mexico to British Columbia,” including far-West Texas. Perhaps someday soon they will again. While the majestic sight of a condor in flight makes it obvious why we should support national efforts to save endangered species, it is equally important to save less charismatic

"Invasion Biology"

Richard Teague et al. on Benefits of Planned Grazing

Here is peer reviewed, hard science from Texas A&M on the topic of holistic planned grazing. This paper by Texas A&M range scientists Richard Teague, Fred Provenza et al. studied the benefits of concentrated, rapidly moving cattle herds on rangeland health. Their peer-reviewed findings contradicted the

"Invasion Biology"

Rare Big Bend Grass Added to Federal Endangered Species List

Most agencies, universities and conservationists continue to blame cattle grazing for grassland decline. The biodiversity loss described in this article is real but the blame is misplaced. The real cause of grassland decline is lack of animal impact from periodic grazing of bison or cattle and abundant wild species. The

"Invasion Biology"

Ranches for Free: Birdwell Creek - Planned Grazing

Here is a Texas example of high density planned grazing, which means the owners greatly increased cattle numbers and animal density, improving habitat and forage production. The increase in productivity per acre is like getting a ranch (or two) for free. These results directly contradict the agency-university biases against cattle

"Invasion Biology"

Legislation Reclassifying Elk as 'Exotic'

Here is the legislation that changed Texas’ native elk from treasured, protected game animals to vermin that are shot on sight at all state-managed lands in far-West Texas. The legislative declaration that elk are not native is scientifically incorrect and meaningless.   This legislation was introduced under the normal “radar,” declaring

"Invasion Biology"

Iowa State Fair Cow and Boy Taking Nap Wins the Internet After Photo Goes Viral

This touching photo evokes the ancient connection between humans and livestock. Sadly, modern industrial agriculture – including much dairy and meat production – breaks this connection and increasingly disregards humane animal husbandry. NOTE: This post originally appeared on FOXNews.com on August 14, 2017 This here is a little story about a

"Invasion Biology"

To Fight Climate Change, Heal the Ground

Soil health and soil fertility should be the goal of every farmer and rancher. Imagine the changes in habitat and wildlife practices if every action and every inaction – such as using fertilizers and pesticides, or removing animals – were tested according to how that action would affect soil health and fertility.

"Invasion Biology"

Gone With the Wind - Russian Thistle

Thistle is a great rescue plant for desertified ranges. Quail love thistle seeds and the bugs it hosts, and many wild and domestic animals use it when it is young and tender. NOTE: This article appeared in the June 2017 edition of Texas Wildlife Magazine. The article is posted with

"Invasion Biology"

Allan Savory: How to Green the World's Deserts and Reverse Climate Change

Desertification is a fancy word for land that is turning to desert,” begins Allan Savory in this quietly powerful talk (now viewed by 4-million). And terrifyingly, it’s happening to about two-thirds of the world’s grasslands, accelerating climate change and causing traditional grazing societies to descend into social chaos.

"Invasion Biology"

Tanglehead in South Texas - Changes and Challenges

The so-called “invasion” of Tanglehead grass is a symptom of cattle removals on South Texas rangeland. This excellent article contains insights and facts that point to this. The facts: * Tanglehead is a native grass. * Tanglehead was not ‘invasive’ so long as the ranges were being grazed. * With reduced grazing, it

"Invasion Biology"

Texas Approves Feral Hog Hunting by Hot Air Balloon

Soon we will have tried every goofy way to control wild pig populations while ignoring the common sense solution: Gather and sell free range pigs into the commercial food chain, like back in the day. NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on May 25, 2017. Texas lawmakers have

"Invasion Biology"

TPWD Mule Deer Habitat Advice

I was surprised to learn at a TPWD mule deer seminar that the way we graze cattle at Circle Ranch harms plants and water function. So I read all the studies on which these conclusions were based and found they did not study what they claimed to study. I wrote

"Invasion Biology"

Reds on Shrimp, Gulls on Reds

On May 21, 2011 we were fly fishing for redfish in the lower Laguna Madre.  Here’s a wonderful photograph of a redfish pod feeding on shrimp, and gulls trailing the redfish to pick up their leavings.   You might wonder why this picture has been entered on a blog dedicated

"Invasion Biology"

Where's a Real Environmentalist When you Need One?

Many of the strongest advocates for planned grazing of cattle and other domestic animals to maintain and restore habitat health – ourselves included – started out opposed to grazing, which the agencies and universities have taught 4-generations to believe is bad for plants and animals. NOTE: This post initially appeared in Range

"Invasion Biology"

Millions of Bees Dead After South Carolina Sprays for Zika Mosquitoes

No pesticide – any chemical used to kill plant or animal ‘pests’ –  is selective. This story should give pause to those who think the ‘feral hog apocalypse’ and routine use of range poison is a good idea. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WashingtonPost.com on September 1, 2016   On Sunday

"Invasion Biology"

Did Humans Live in California 100,000 Years Earlier Than We Thought?

At our Circle Ranch Indian Cave,  Arizona State University found charcoal that radiocarbon dating says is 25,000-years older than the 10,000 BC date which most scientists say is when humans arrived in North America.  This extraordinary date change would be small compared to what is discussed below. NOTE: