Wildlife
Birds Got no Beef with Burger
Opening the pickup door and stepping out onto native grass, the sun begins to rise amidst the sound of the dawn chorus. I listen to the melodic tinkling of a Baird’s sparrow (my favorite song, and also set as my morning phone alarm); the downward whirl of the Sprague’s pipit (my ring tone); the buzz of the Brewer’s sparrows, the joyful couplets of the McCown’s longspur. The chestnut-collared longspurs are chasing each other in play, or fight.
Read More...Waterton Biosphere Reserve’s Carnivores and Communities Program
The Waterton Biosphere Reserve’s (WBR’s) Carnivores and Communities program operates in four municipalities, two of which are within the boundaries of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve in Canada. The program focuses on proactive management to decrease conflict between people and carnivores, especially bears and wolves, within the agricultural community of Southwestern Alberta. It is well funded and effective, and it is a major WBR program.
Read More...An Old Tool Protecting New Calves
A tool originally developed for hunting wolves is a non-lethal option for protecting livestock from them, through a public-private partnership in big sky country.
Read More...Seeking Solutions for Grizzlies in the Gravelly Mountains
Livestock producers in the Northern Rockies face the growing challenge of increasing numbers of grizzly bears. That challenge has come to a critical point in the Gravelly Mountains in southwest Montana, where the population of grizzlies has expanded in recent years onto public lands grazing allotments on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The number of livestock lost to grizzly predation on these rangelands consequently increased dramatically over the last several years.
Read More...Western Digest – November 2019
Monthly digest of news and opportunities on working lands, water and wildlife.
Read More...Western Digest – October 2019
News and opportunities on working lands, water and wildlife Working Lands Economics Ecosystem Market Credits: Potential purchases of U.S. ecosystem credits from agriculture could be as high as $13.9 billion according to an IHS Markit economic assessment released today by the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC): ESMC. State-led Financing and Agricultural Conservation: States that embrace…
Read More...Western Digest – September 2019
News and opportunities on working lands, water and wildlife Working Lands Economics Succession Planning: With farms and ranches being swallowed by cities, succession plans are key. This article features WLA’s associate director Cole Mannix’s family and hometown: Bitterroot Magazine. Economic Value of Endangered Species: A recent Oregon State University study offers evidence that boosting the…
Read More...Western Digest – July 2019
News and opportunities on working lands, water and wildlife Working Lands Economics MT Ranchers Get Paid for Rotational Grazing: In multi-orgnization partnership, Western Sustainability Exchange (WSE) is helping ranchers figure out whether implementing rotational grazing practices (to sequester carbon) make sense for their ranches through the Montana Grasslands Carbon Initiative: Successful Farming. Paying Farmers to…
Read More...Western Digest – June 2019
News and opportunities on working lands, water and wildlife Working Lands Economics WLA, Rural Economics and Conservation: Check out this radio interview on rural economics, agriculture and conservation with WLA’s associate director, Cole Mannix, and Montana rancher Laura Nowlin: Home Ground Radio. Ecosystem Services Market Consortium Expands: Just three months after its official launch, the…
Read More...Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Video courtesy of Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Are you familiar with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program? It’s a great opportunity providing technical and financial support for private landowners interested in habitat restoration. Check it out! The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is a voluntary habitat restoration program administered by the…
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