I’ve been in on some enjoyable meetings lately with
ranchers, biologists and range scientists around a familiar topic, sage grouse.
Political sparring is in full swing over the bird as we move
closer to the deadline for an Endangered Species listing decision in September of
2015. Cutting through the rhetoric and posturing, getting down to what’s best
for the bird can be difficult sometimes . . . actually most times.
The meetings were held to address rancher concerns and to nail
down sites for a grazing and grouse research project to be conducted in Idaho
over the next ten years. And as far as meetings go, these were great. It feels
good to finally scientifically address the continuing debate over whether grouse
and cows can co-exist. The research promises to be common-sense based and applicable
to real world situations, and though the ranchers are understandably cautious,
they signed on.
One meeting was held at a local fire station. It doubles as a
community center evidenced by the boxes of canned food for locals in need.
Another meeting was over coffee at Martha’s Café, another at a government
agency conference room with high-tech overhead mapping, and finally we shared lunch at The Country Kitchen. Different ranchers in every setting, but all
interested in learning ways to protect their livelihood and still
do right by the bird.
We listened to a member of the Shoshone-Bannock tribe talk
about the medicinal qualities of sagebrush leaves and the long tradition of
hunting grouse in tribal lore. Another long time rancher told of grouse flying
up under his colt, watching summer broods scurry to cover and seeing large
flocks rise late in the year when gathering cattle in the fall. A woman
rancher described the beauty of the desert when wild flowers are in bloom. A
middle aged ranching couple talked of the miles and miles of fencing they maintain
each year and how to handle rats in the cabin over the summer.
These ranchers are the real deal. I applaud them for stepping out as leaders, willing to move forward whatever
the outcome.
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| one frosty morning |
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| Anna's Mater horse |
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| new cedar post |
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