Range Poisons

A collection of 171 posts

Animal Growth

Goats Clearing Meadows and Forest at Pitchstone Waters #3

Goats Clearing Meadows and Forest at Pitchstone Waters #3 from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.   Third in a series: On the Fall River in Idaho, 5-miles from the southwest corner of Yellowstone Park, we use goats instead of herbicides to control weeds and stimulate grasses in sagebrush meadows.   NOTE: this post

Bio-Diversity

Is Widespread Pesticide Use Connected To Grassland Bird Declines?

“This article discusses the relationship between grassland bird declines and a host of poisons increasingly used by ranchers, farmers and homeowners. The root problem according to the author, is the seeming “capture” of the pesticide regulatory system, in both Canada and U.S., by the chemical industry and its well-funded

Bio-Diversity

Living Soil Film

Our soils support 95 percent of all food production, and by 2060, our soils will be asked to give us as much food as we have consumed in the last 500 years. They filter our water. They are one of our most cost-effective reservoirs for sequestering carbon. They are our

Bayer

Saying No to Glyphosate in Our Foods, Environment

Quoting sources for the article appearing below, ” … glyphosate is the most dangerous environmental chemical we face today due to its unique mechanism of toxicity, careless application, and pervasive presence.” NOTE: this article was originally published to TheEpochTimes.com on May 2, 2022. It was written by Melissa Diane Smith   Of

"Invasion Biology"

When Goats Become Firefighters, Not Everyone Follows Orders

The article below discusses using goat herds to reduce the frequency and intensity of wildfire.   At Pitchstone Waters, we use goats every year. Their favorite food is leafy spurge –  a rapidly spreading weed that no other domestic or wild animal will eat, and which is immune to herbicides. NOTE: this

"Invasion Biology"

Grand Teton Cull Ends With 58 Mt. Goats Killed, Primarily in Park's North End

According to the article below, the National Park Service (NPS) has decided to exterminate wild mountain goats in the Teton-Yellowstone Parks because they (1) are non-native, (2) “compete” with bighorn and (3) might infect them with diseases.   NPS claims to follow the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (the Model)

"Invasion Biology"

‘A Barbaric Federal Program’: US Killed 1.75m Animals Last Year – or 200 Per Hour

As reported below, the federal “war on wildlife” is alive and well.   NOTE: this article was originally published to The Guardian’s App News Channel on March 25, 2022. It was written by Oliver Milman.   Activists condemn Wildlife Services, a division of the USDA, which says deaths necessary to protect

Bio-Diversity

Nearly Half of US Bald Eagles Suffer Lead Poisoning

“According to the article below, scientists say that eagles are still getting lead poison from carrion contaminated by bullets and fishing tackle.   NOTE: this article was originally published to APNews.com on February 17, 2022. It was written by Christina Larson.   WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s national bird is more beleaguered

Bio-Diversity

Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #9: Harvesting Water in Steep Canyons

Restoring the Southwest’s desert grasslands takes water. Most ranches treat eroding gulleys and roads – and their stormwater runoffs – as liabilities. In fact these are potential water assets on every ranch. This little diversion dam harvests water from a steep desert canyon and returns it to water-starved meadows, restoring upstream

"Invasion Biology"

Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #5: Upper Pennel Canyon at Circle Ranch

Using a mountain gulley for erosion control and desert grassland restoration at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas.   NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on August 14, 2017.        This little dam took 45-minutes to build.

Bio-Diversity

Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #4: Los Cuates Canyon at Circle Ranch

Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #4: Los Cuates Canyon discusses specific gulley problems and treatments in a mountain canyon at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. It is one of a series that demonstrates how to remedy eroded roadbeds and gulleys: returning water to grasslands and plants, using natural rainfall to irrigate

Bayer

Bayer Blasts 'Unscientific' Rejection by Mexican Regulator of GMO Corn Permit

As discussed below, Mexico does not want Monsanto/Bayer’s Roundup-laced food. Any discussion of GMO safety is in truth a discussion of Roundup (glyphosate). GMO corn is modified to tolerate the poison, which is linked to many human diseases.   It remains to be seen if Mexico can withstand the

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

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

food-supply

Deadly Diseases From Wildlife Thrive When Nature is Destroyed, Study Finds

“As discussed below, much of what is wrong with human health originates in our agricultural practices. NOTE: this article was originally published to TheGuardian.com on August 5, 2020. It was written by Damian Carrington. Rats and bats that host pandemic pathogens like Covid-19 increase in damaged ecosystems, analysis shows

"Invasion Biology"

Mountain Goat Removal Temporarily Closes Areas Of Grand Teton National Park

According to the article below, the National Park Service (NPS) has decided to exterminate wild mountain goats in the Teton-Yellowstone Parks because they (1) are non-native, (2) “compete” with bighorn and (3) might infect them with diseases.   NPS claims to follow the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (the Model)

"Invasion Biology"

The Resistance to Holistic Wildlife Management

Across the West as well as in Texas, agencies, universities, governmental and conservation organizations resist holistic wildlife and agricultural management practices. Most Western public grazing rules make holistic grazing very difficult if not impossible  In this 5-minute video, range scientist Allan Savory discusses why this is so, and how this

Bio-Diversity

Protecting America’s Duck Factory

As described in the article below, the success of waterfowl conservation efforts proves it is possible to save bellwether species. This conservation success stands in stark contrast to the fate of other iconic species like quail, salmon, and monarch butterflies.   While these species are not currently “bouncing back,” we can

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

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

"Invasion Biology"

The War On Nature

Quoting the authors below, “In reality, the problem is not herbicide resistant weeds; it is the perception that they are an enemy that must be destroyed at all costs. Military imagery – especially words like “war” and “battle “- is very common in the literature on weed control. But there is

Bayer

Banish Roundup From the Farm? It’ll Take More Than Lawsuits

Considering that three generations of American farmers, ranchers and wildlife managers have been taught that pesticides are inherently safe, and the answer to most agricultural problems can be found in a bottle, the attitudes expressed in the article below are no surprise.   What is very surprising is that there is

"Invasion Biology"

Scorched Portugal Turns to the Goat as a Low-Cost Firefighter

In nature, different animals eat different kinds of plants and there are specific species for every such “ecological niche”. Where native animals have gone missing, domestic goats can be used to replace animals that once ate brush and weeds, just as cattle replace herds of nomadic grazers like bison. Goats

Bio-Diversity

Goats Eat Weeds - Farm to Fork Wyoming

In Wyoming battles between sheepherders and cattlemen are legendary and harrowing. With that turbulent history it is a little surprising that the daughter of an old Wyoming ranching family is a leading force behind weed management with goats today. We’ll learn about the clever niche Lonie Malmberg and her