Brian Ertz
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Killing predators to “conserve” other more “desirable” wildlife has been a consistent topic of conversation on this forum. It’s ugly enough in it’s own right in my mind – single-species conservation runs into such ethical dilemmas, especially when most wildlife managers don’t see a problem at all. It appears one wildlife manager in Nevada doesn’t…
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A lot of ecologically important land is going to be put under the bulldozer with this. Secretary Salazar, Senator Reid Announce ‘Fast-Track’ Initiatives for Solar Energy Development on Western Lands – Department of Interior News Release 6/29/09 And some comment : Interior fast-tracks Big Solar on public lands – Chris Clarke, The Clade Note the phrasing: “rapid…
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Woolgrowers try to spin the decision to muddy the waters on Bighorn/Domestic sheep disease U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill has voided the Payette National Forest Science Advisory Committee’s contribution to management decisions when it decides whether or not to ban or reduce domestic sheep grazing on the Payette National Forest. Federal judge voids bighorn…
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In April, Ralph contrasted the disproportionate media hysteria that takes place when a wolf kills a cow or sheep versus when any number of other natural events result in vastly more significant livestock loss. The example that he used : SE Montana blizzard kills far more livestock in 2 days than Montana wolves in a year :…
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So many of us have seen the effects of Mountain Pine Beetles on forest we’ve visited here in the west ~ up close we see dead or dying trees and from afar perhaps a red and gray hue from within a forest canopy. Mostly, we’ve come to learn via media accounts, the words and tones…
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Bear bites back News Release – 6/28/09 Idaho Department of Fish and Game Three eastern Idaho bear hunters got an unpleasant surprise Sunday morning, June 28, when their hounds surrounded a female grizzly with cubs. The bear took after the hunters, knocked one man down, bit him on the right arm and tossed him around.…
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The Button Valley Bugle writes a nice piece about the sage-steppe ecosystem. It also includes a remarkable photo of Prairie Wind Farm which illustrates the conundrum concerning new energy but continued habitat degradation/fragmentation. Check it out : Sagebrush Rebellion – The Button Valley Bugle We have lost over half of our sagebrush ecosystems and yet,…
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Scientists have been speaking about how regulation to ensure greenhouse gas emission reductions needs to be comprehensive to work. Unfortunately, Obama folded to the Big Ag lobby on one of the most significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions : THE INFLUENCE GAME: Excuse me! Lobby wins on burps – AP One contributor to global warming —…