Harper’s gets it right on Buffalo

For those of you with a Harper’s Magazine subscription, you’re in for a treat with Christopher Ketcham’s article They shoot buffalo, don’t they: Hazing America’s last wild herd in Harper’s most recent edition. Ketcham gets it right again.

For those of you, like myself, who don’t have a subscription to the publication, get on down to your local newstand and pick up a copy. It’s the June 2008 edition.

The article hearkens back to Harper’s Bernard DeVoto days in it’s candid willingness to take Livestock to task for their crimes against wildlife and the absurd hold this special interest has on management – on its ability to mangle the truth. It’s a stark depiction of just how little this cultural identity – this mentality, has changed.

It’s a good read, let’s hope Ketcham keeps following this path ~ Livestock’s contribution to the subsidized War on Wildlife with other species and co-opted agencies – there are plenty to choose from.

Here’s a work of Christopher Ketcham published in the recent past :

The Cowboy’s Carnage: Ranching and the War on Wildlife in the American West (Men’s Journal, Jan. 2008 ..)

Ripples continue amid sage grouse review

The oil & gas and livestock industries continue to feel the pressure from land use agencies as the evidence piles up indicating that these extractive uses of our public lands are significantly contributing to the precipitous decline in sage grouse numbers.

Sage grouse are described as the “spotted owl” of the ranching industry in the west, and now as the “polar bear” of the oil & gas industry in the west.

Whatever your thoughts on comparable species and whatever the result of the court ordered reconsideration for listing, the incredible Greater Sage-Grouse is already elevating wildlife’s priority and bringing a new and welcome introspective pause to our dangerously destructive relationship with the imperiled Sagebrush Sea.

Gateway West transmission project begins scoping

Plans are underway begin developing public lands to accommodate big energy, a move which promises to further fragment already diminishing wildlife habitat :

Feds begin scoping for Gateway West transmission project – Casper Star Tribute

Many of these areas are some of the last best habitat for wildlife such as sage grouse, pygmy rabbit, and a host of other sagebrush dependent species.

The article also alludes to similar projects in wait all across the west.

Wilderness bills continue improvement in new congress

Whatever your take on whether the quid pro quo is worth it with wilderness designation, we’re in a different political atmosphere and that is beginning to show results – the bills are getting better :

Simpson removes criticized portion of Boulder-White Clouds wilderness bill – Idaho Statesman

94 federal acres that would have been transfered to local development saved – 5,500 more to go.

Sage Grouse Rock Art

Sage grouse ~ sign of rock hopping in the mud in the Jarbidge:

“sure shows why petroglyphs are so alluring – their irregularities imitate nature more precisely than a symmetrical or polished western-style depiction/image …”

Photograph © Katie Fite 2008 – Western Watersheds Project