More seriously...
The BLM is killing hundreds of desert tortoises.
Desert tortoise faces threat from its own refuge August 25, 2013Back at the conservation center, a large refrigerator labeled "carcass freezer" hummed in the desert sun as scientists examined the facility's 1,400 inhabitants to find those hearty enough to release into the wild. Officials expect to euthanize more than half the animals in the coming months in preparation for closure at the end of 2014.
More glaring proof that the FedMob is incapable of managing lands or wildlife.
I’ve done a fair amount of research on this today.
I don’t think it has anything to do with a Harry/Rory Reid Chinese Solar project. Maybe, a planned wind project, but not a solar project. The maps from the BLM simple don’t show a solar project for that area. There is however a wind project that may be involved.
BLM has a long effort to save and re-locate the desert tortoise.
But why did they need to round-up cattle ?
Why did they need to send in armed Rangers to round-up cattle ?
Why now and why there ?
The BLM’s “Desert Tortoise Conservation Center” talks about “receiving wild tortoises in harms way from development”.
http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html
On that same page is a link to “Current District Federal Register Notices”
Notice of Temporary Closure on Public Lands in the Gold Butte, Mormon Mesa, and Bunkerville Flats Areas in the Northeastern Portion of Clark County, NV
This “notice” was also “Notice of Intent to Impound Unauthorized Livestock” March 19 2014. This is the action that has since been cancelled.
My questions are;
Why does the BLM need to round-up “unauthorized” grazing livestock in order to save/relocate the desert tortoise?
Would “Authorized” grazing livestock been left to graze ?
Do “unauthorized” grazing livestock pose a greater threat than “authorized” grazing livestock?
What does unauthorized mean ?
Are they unauthorized because they haven’t paid their fees ?
If the Impounding of unauthorized grazing livestock had nothing to do with the Desert Tortoise, then why was this tortoise issue brought to our attention in the first place?
I think the BLM’s “Desert Tortoise Conservation Center”, which they themselves state on their website “is scheduled to close in December 2014 due to funding issues”, saw an opportunity to seize the private property of Mr. Bundy to either hold for ransom or later sell in order to fund their continuing operations.
I would be surprised if the cost to send armed Rangers on this misguided action came from their budget.