Posted on 04/16/2014 9:43:34 PM PDT by Ray76
"In letters last week to ranchers across Nevada, the federal agency has mandated removal of cattle from 1.7 million acres of public lands from March 1 to June 14."
"...conservationists call tortoises an "indicator" species, holding that if the animal is having a hard time surviving for some reason, other animals are as well. "It may be there will be no effect, and we can all go back to business as usual," says Slone.
But ranchers say they cannot pick up the pieces after a half decade and start again. "I will go belly up," says Kelly Jensen, whose family has ranched here for three generations."
"Part of the dispute between ranchers and BLM officials concerns the reasons for dwindling tortoise populations in the West.
"In five years, we will better be able to demonstrate the effects [on tortoises] of grazing," says Slone [Sid Slone, chief biologist for the BLM's Las Vegas district].
Having shown that tortoise populations have dropped 90 percent in the last 50 years - and in some areas of the Mojave declining 50 percent in seven years - environmentalists were able to get the tortoise emergency status on the federal list of endangered species in 1989."
"[Mr. Connelley (president of the Nevada Cattleman's Association)] says studies have shown that the tortoise numbers reached their height in the 1960s when livestock numbers were at their height because tortoises thrive on cow manure."
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
Tortoises are an “indicator” species - the entire tortoise predicate is lie stacked upon lie.
Tortoises and cattle have lived together on that land for over 100 years. What is another 5 years supposed to prove?
This tortoise spends 8 months out of the year in their hole sleeping.
No WONDER the Democrat gov’t. loves it so much - it fits their voter base.
Back in the day I would hunt rabbit and grouse. Both had their natural population cycles of boom and bust (4 and 6 years or something.) It would not surprise me if this tortoise is similar - but with a cycle a lot longer due to their lifespan.
If someone could wipe out the darn things, this would no longer be an issue.
Is there any business this administration isn’t trying to ruin? Most blatantly anti business, anti self reliance administration ever.
The BLM are being useful retards here.
Ping
That sounds like the Dingy (Rustler) Reid position.
They’ve been so concerned about the tortoises that they killed hundreds of them prior to this kabuki kow theater.
The Nature Conservancy:
“Clark County’s Short-Term Desert Tortoise Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) was a landmark mitigation agreement developed by The Nature Conservancy and other conservation partners to assure the preservation of the desert tortoise while allowing development in the Las Vegas Valley to continue.”
“The Las Vegas Valley provides crucial habitat for the desert tortoise, but had been facing powerful development pressure from Las Vegas, which was one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States for many years.
Partners”
“Formally approved by the USFWS in August 1991, the HCP permitted 22,352 acres of development to occur in the Las Vegas Valley in exchange for the establishment of a 400,000-acre desert tortoise preserve. Earlier, in a related action, the Conservancy helped settle a major lawsuit over the listing of the species, which has resulted in over $1 million being allocated to desert tortoise research.”
Ha Ha. Please note that the widdle tortoise was supposed to face extinction by the year 2000. Didn’t I just read on another thread, that they have adapted and are doing so well that there’s too many and the Gmen are killing off the extras?
So it looks like they started this the year before B.J. Clinton stepped into the Oral Office.
That's why so many gardeners add it to their gardens. Improves the structure and the nutrition.
If BLM was really managing the land, they wouldn't have so much dessert, they would have just used the cow poop to transform part of the area into lush fields of green.
The ranchers could have given them the cow poop instead of fees. That poop costs a lot at garden centers.
Now that gives me an idea. How about the Bundy’s just gather up all the cow poop they can find everywhere on the range, weigh it, and figure out the value and pay off the so called fees by delivering great big loads right to the BLM’s front door.
Now that there would be a real crowd pleaser. Wouldn't you just love to see the BLM Chief's expression?
Clark County’s Short-Term Desert Tortoise Habitat Conservation Plan was an agreement developed by The Nature Conservancy.
Tortoises an “indicator” species, holding that if the animal is having a hard time surviving for some reason, other animals are as well.
“Losses in tortoises are due to a respiratory disease, exacerbated in part by the release of captive tortoises into the wild.”
It’s fair to say that Clark County’s Short-Term Desert Tortoise Habitat Conservation Plan was predicated upon a misconception.
They are seeking people to come help with a rotating watch...
PLease share.
oathkeepers.org
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