Lane Batot scouted up this fascinating article about the way some ranchers are adapting to the growing presence of wolves. It trips the trigger of Continuity & Persistence, because the herding practices described go back millennia:
[Glenn Elzinga] and his crew, which includes his plant ecologist wife, seven daughters and handful of interns, stay with their cattle 24/7 for their entire summer grazing period.
Teams of at least three people go out for four-day stints, herding their 400 to 500 yearlings away from sensitive riparian areas and toxic plants and toward lush upland grasses. This helps to prevent erosion in critical streams that provide habitat for salmon and beavers while improving soil health and allowing native grasses to thrive. These cowpokes keep the entire herd huddled together on about 10 acres at a time to ensure the cattle are relaxed and grazing throughout the day, as they’re gently guided toward camp. Every night, the crew takes about 15 minutes to set up their 100-foot-by-100-foot night pens with a single strand of hotwire held up by fiberglass posts.
Since it started the practice in 2015, Alderspring Ranch has not lost one animal to predation.
“As soon as the wolves knew we were there living with these cattle, that was the end of it,” says Elzinga.
Wary of Wolves, Some Western Ranchers Are Returning to Life on the Range
There are some significant questions as to whether this is a scaleable, sustainable practice in the modern era. It’s of topical interest in my neck of the woods; we reported on the first confirmed wolf depredation on a ranch east of Sisters just a couple of weeks ago. Locals report trail cam footage that shows nine distinctly identifiable wolves, although Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is only confirming a pair.
A Metolius wolf trots past a trail camera on May 31, 2022 on USFS lands in Jefferson County. That’s in our back yard.
Opinions and emotions vary when it comes to wolves in Sisters Country. Some ranchers are apprehensive, but prepared to adapt; some are pissed off. There is a Wolf Welcome Committee — activists who are very happy to see wolves return to the Cascades. Hopefully an effective means of accommodating wolves and “rewilding” the region can be achieved while protecting the economic well-being of local farmers and ranchers. I’m in favor of both.
There are also big questions around the impact of predation on deer and elk herds. The mule deer population is under pressure here — though you wouldn’t know it by the daily conference they hold in my yard.
All told, though, I’m glad we have this problem to work through. I plan to get out and catch at least some wolf sign this summer. I never thought I’d see the day…
*
Lady Marilyn and I indulged in some cowboy action over the weekend, as the Sisters Rodeo rode into town. A bluebird day, it was.
The Sweetheart of the Rodeo…
The Rodeo conducted an Empty Saddle procession for a long-time director named John Leavitt who died this year. They named the arena the John Leavitt Memorial Arena. Pretty cool. John once toured Europe as part of a Wild West Show…
Lady Marilyn with the brilliant JJ Harrison.
Connected with custom hatmaker Gene Baldwin at the Sisters Rodeo Parade. Gene made my EDC hat, which you see here. Gene and I have an ongoing friendly tussle over my hat. He’s not altogether comfortable with me repping the brand in a dirty, beat up old thang, especially since I’ve got two in show condition. I say that my EDC hat is GREAT advertising, cuz it shows that a Baldwin Hat is comfortable to wear EVERY DAMN DAY — and holds up to real-deal, hardcore USE. I win the argument, because I can recount multiple instances of people offering me hundreds of dollars to buy the hat right off my head — which ain’t gonna happen.
I have often said that my Viking funeral pyre must include my CZ rifles, my Breedlove Guitar, and my Baldwin Hat.
I am, however, going to have him make one more — an early 20th Century safari-style hat. Or, as Lady Marilyn says, with a flutter:
“Oh… Spencer Dutton.”
Yeah.
Ceili was in the Rodeo spirit — though she bugged out of town for a road trip up to Hood River.
David Wrolson says
>>>”Or, as Lady Marilyn says, with a flutter:
“Oh… Spencer Dutton.””<<<<<
Ahem-Ahem.
Apparently she hasn't seen a picture of me in my genuine Africa Bush Hat-or it would be
"Oh…David Wrolson"-LOL
Yes, I will steal the Viking pyre idea from you and the hat goes on it as does some (non-Flashman) George MacDonald Fraser and my Browning X-Bolt 375.
JimC says
There ya go!
Matthew says
Michael K. Vaughn has a Conan read in September
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCLX7AvtVE&t=916s
Aaron says
26 years living in central Wisconsin I’ve had the pleasure of seeing about a dozen wolves. All but one from the safety of my Jeep, the other I came upon in the woods. Watched it drag a deer kill about 50 yards deeper into the woods. If it knew I was there it didn’t seem to care. Backed away with my S&W 66 in hand. Black bear sightings have become more common in the last 5 years.
Quixotic Mainer says
We have some extra large coyotes that have plenty of wolf and a dab of domestic dog in their lineage. I could hear them howling, packed up and running game last night when i got back from a trail run. Definitely added a little extra wild ambience! I am alright with the wolf around. When he follows the thickest deer herds into the burbs though, interesting times will ensue.
I just this spring changed my EDC hat after wearing an Akubra since leaving for undergrad in 2005. Went with a slightly shorter brim and a more American crown.I agree though, hats worn by guys actually doing stuff in them ought to have some dings and wear.
lane batot says
Both humans living alongside wolves, and the wolves themselves, are going to have to do a lot of learning and adapting. I, personally, am thrilled at the wolf’s comeback–never thought I’d see that in my lifetime! On a wolf study Summer college program up in Montana(out of the University of Montana in Missoula, under the guidance of the incomparable, marvelous Robert Ream), lo, those many years ago(in 1982 –BEFORE the Yellowstone reintroductions), I got to experience the very interesting privilege of interviewing Canadian(Alberta) ranchers that had been dealing with wolves for generations, so IT IS doable–but there has to be give-and-take on both sides for it to work…..And Quixotic Mainer–our Eastern “coy-wolves” have ALREADY infiltrated, not only the burbs, but many large cities! Some very interesting studies on these urban animals going on right now. Have you seen the PBS Nature episode “Meet The Coywolf”? Highly recommended! I have a DVD copy of it, but it is probably viewable on the PBS website(and maybe Youtube?)…..
Quixotic Mainer says
I will hunt that up and give that a watch, thanks! They are amazing beasts.
I am not too shocked though, I have met a few trotting away with a dumpster rat while on business checks. Makes me wonder where they lay up in the daytime?
lane batot says
You will SEE some of the places they den up on that documentary!
SQUIRE RUSTICUS says
To the gentle reader, I apologize for my rambling style, and mean no insult to anyone EVER !
As per the “Spenser Dutton” style hat, I have a couple of different colored Akubra “Territory” hats (Sage, and maybe Stone) as sold by David Morgan, that I purchased probably 10 to 13 years ago.These I believe have a pretty close look to the Dutton hat. I have an Akubra “Slouch” hat also, for that past time look. Aukbra makes good hats, and David Morgan is a great source.
With wolves or any conservation measure, that is a “return” or change to the status quo to the way a ranching operation works, is going to be met as a challenge. Years ago I had an environmentalist want to, debate then argue the point that he thought all livestock should be removed from farms and surely Western ranges, to reintroduce the Bison. Buffalo he said,” were environmentally friendly”, did not cause errioson, etc…When I pointed out they both had cloven hooves, weighted about the same, had simular grazing habits, that my parents had “Buffalo Wallows” from 150 years previously, that cattle make paths, buffalo make wallows, the guy lost his temper, raging in a loud voice about, ” Buffalo being rare, almost exitnct, we had no right”. Like I was part of the slaughter with a Sharp’s, standing in the “bone yard” of Hays City. Must of read a book or something, like “Buffalo Commons”, bought into the Ted Tunner dream. The national cattle shows started having alternate ideas circulated from spectators in the mid 80’s. I’ve never understood why an animal activist or vegans would wish to come to a livestock show, to argue and debate their thoughts. They surely are not going to change anyones mind.If I’m not for something, I avoid it.
To Wolves:
Raising cattle is about sending beef to market. Dealing with predators cutting into the slim profit margins, changing the way a operation conducts its day to day business, is not going to be welcome. It is usually the people whom do not come from the land, have not had to rely on calf crops, not had to put down crippled animals, make reports (trying to recoup compensation) when in their limited time they needed to attend to other task, or get to nurse the wounded animals back to health, that are most in favor of predator reintroduction. Raising cattle, especially on smaller ranches with no hired men or crew is a dark early morning to dark late night business, not 9 to 5. More like 16 to 18 hours, could be more during calving season. One is always behind, never enough hours in the day to attend to what needs to be attended to, lots of worry, hard work, always something to do. Predator attacks is just another problem to deal with, costing money, time, one doesn’t have. People who raise livestock don’t usually get to take a day off, as the livestock have to be fed, water chopped in winter, windmills or automatics fixed, water sometimes hauled, in winter cubed, worked, calves pulled, doctored, fence to fix, hay to put up, etc…
I’ve had to deal with coyote attacks on livestock, many times as a young man and it is sad and never pretty. Our neighbors had like 20 plus sheep hit out of 300 plus head, in a protective, electrified night pens, killing 6 to 8 outright, the balance in different stages of being crippled or eaten alive. A sight most unwelcome ! My family would lose newborn calves on some years.
Nobody loves the land more then the rancher and cowboy (dozens of other outdoor jobs). When I had those occupations I spent the majority of my life outside, noticing every change in my area, different animals in the yearly cycle, what had changed or was missing. That’s why cowboys-buckaroos have foliage tooled on our saddles, belts, inlayed I our boots. We love nature !!! Contrary to what rabid environmentalist think, nobody loves the land or animals more then us whom live in it everyday, make our living off of it.
Whenever I visit relatives whom live in cities on the East Coast, they always feel the need to take me hiking, then point out aspects of nature. Inside I’m like I work outside, everyday, which is why I’m burned up by the sun, I walk 7 to 10 miles everyday (wish I was still horseback), this is NOT a novelty to me. I think….Yes, I knew that as a child (said inside my mind) when they wish to point out a fact of nature that children SHOULD know. But we have to handle life with tact and grace. NO my family whom hike on the weekends or work at ski lodges in the Winter are never going to experience the nature I have over 50 plus years working outside.
As per friends I had in the Great Basin that would discuss their angst. Often big ranches have to have BLM, Forest Permit, etc… land. These government organizations hire in Biological experts, not from the land, or the region, often changing the way these producers have to operate, whom have lived on, taken care of this same piece of land for 120 years. Oh last year you have a 500 head permit, but we are reducing head permit on this area to…. to protect an insect, rodent, etc… Go to Elko, Burns, the Jordon Valley and get into a conversation about the governments insanity over the years, with the locals. You might learn something.
A crew I was inspecting built a road into a mini station on one of the mountains-hills outside of Ellensburg, WA.in about 2010 or 2011. We had a herd of elk cows and calves of about 100, wander around the site passing through everyday, like we were normal to them. Anyway a BLM worker (he fixed Elk damaged fences all day), talked to us one afternoon. He said,” Enjoy them while you can, cause there is 3 packs of wolves (BLM or Forest Service only acknowledged 2) up here, and they are starting to decimate the Elk”. Guess just like they have the Moose population in Montana.
Down at Pendleton, friends whom lived up around between Baker to Walla Walla (sorry can’t remember the name) said their ranch dogs were all disappearing. Wolf had moved into the area, and one friend worried about her grandchildren.
I’m not for or against the Wolf, just think it needed to be thought out better. Maybe controlled better.
Do the people whom enjoy the thought of a wolf (or anything newly reitroduced or protected) roaming the West, think of the problems., pain, suffering, extra work and loss economically ??? How would they feel if their dogs got killed, their horses had to be put down ??? We also cut the lively hood of farmers and generational ranchers for new environmental concerns in forest, grasslands or marshland, in favor of newly found (have always been there without problem) toads, snakes, insects, rodents, etc….
Thank you, for putting up with my commits and thoughts
JimC says
Your thoughts are most welcome here. And they’re on point — there are complicated issues and real impacts at stake, and it has to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, EVERYTHING tends to get politicized and turned into a theater of operations of the culture war. Saw that at an Oregon Board of Forestry meeting here in Sisters last week. Public testimony was all on a non-agenda item — a Habitat Conservation Plan that timber folks are very worried about and environmentalist folk don’t think goes far enough. Everybody in attendance could be identified by tribal affiliation expressed in how they dressed — Patagonia vs. Carhartt.
It is simply my nature to look for common ground and seek solutions that bridge divides. That’s becoming an untenable trait these days, and I wrestle with that all the time.
lane batot says
Yeah, Squire, wolf-hugger that I am, I understand the controversy and difficulties involved–as I said above, BOTH sides are going to need to learn to adapt to each other! Some wolf control will be absolutely necessary, at times. Our professor(also in the local legislature on Montana at the time, and a native Montanan) in that wolf study course I participated in, lo, those many years ago, INSISTED as part of the class, that we travel up to Alberta and interview ranchers there that actually had to deal with wolves–and virtually all of them said they sometimes had to kill individual wolves, or sometimes a whole pack once they started depredating on livestock. But if wolves in the area were not bothering their stock, they left them alone–for two reasons–one, they were busy enough(as you pointed out!) without having to deal with wolves, and also, interestingly, they considered resident wolves NOT killing livestock to be some of the best protection they had against any other wolves, that might be more prone to kill livestock, since wolves are so territorial–they will drive out or KILL other wolves invading their territory! Some of the more unrealistic ‘conservationists” seem to forget, or maybe don’t realize, that wolves do control their own numbers, and next to humans, most wolf deaths can be attributed to other wolves! So even the wolves themselves know very well they must defend their territories and the food supply in it, no different from the ranchers need to survive! Some wolves DO seem to learn to leave livestock alone, tempting as the livestock may be, because of the consequences if they don’t. And there must BE consequences for them to learn and for humans AND wolves to share the same areas. Much as I love wolves, at least I DO understand this…….
SQUIRE RUSTICUS says
You are so right about Patagonia verses Carhartt !!!
We all have are uniforms that brand us to our tribe.
I mean no insult to anyone, I just live by a liberal university with some rabid environmentalist, that are always on the attack, (if they can attack a person they see as conservative in dress or nature) but their knowledge of nature is what they glean from riding around town on a bicycle or begging on the streets for money to get cigarettes, booze, or dope.
Carhartt is worn oftentimes by those whom work, live outside in nature. Own the land, are rural, have outside jobs.
Patagonia usually (but not always) by those whom, read, study about nature and the environment. By people whom have free time to climb mountains, hiking, raft, travel. But they are not usually worn for everyday work, as they are expensive, and not made to hold up to day to day work. They often live somewhere else, but think they have rights in deciding how those whom are local, live on or own the land must live.
Most Patagonia is made mostly of synthetics. They want the fast drying effect, light weight for hiking. Synthetics is NOT natural like say COTTON.
Carhartts are made of mostly cotton. I do have synthetic blend liners in vest and coats by Carharrt to be fair.
People whom work outdoors wear natural fibers (cotton, wool, etc…)
People whom love nature, but probably do not spend their everyday working outside, do not.
Do not get me wrong, I’ve had Patagonia stuff, but due to there political thoughts running contrary to my own, I no longer will purchase their items. I work in oil and gas, I do not believe the biggest problem to the environment is cattle, my life is not social causes, special interest, just trying to make it another day, pay my bills, taxes, be the best person I can.
What I loved about living and working in Oregon and Washington was that many people even in the cities spend a great deal of time outside. More so then most places I live or visit.
That the Agricultural stores sold Filson, White’s Packers (something I use to have to special order). The people take life outside seriously and are willing to pay for good gear. More places here use to sell Filson, but as it is often expensive, they went to lesser brands that do not last, and at most carry just the duffle bags.
If you meet a guy that works for the Forestry Service he may have a Filson whipcord jacket that is 40 plus years old and still going. Same with smoke jumpers, loggers with White Packers. Buy 2 pair, always have a pair going for your whole career..
lane batot says
Dang, I cain’t afford either Carhart NOR Patagonia! I belong to the off-season Wal Mart clothes tribe, I reckon!