As has been pointed out in the first news of this devastating situation, the desert tortoise is endangered by the presence of cattle. Yet, for a very large sum of money to the government, a cattle raiser can use the land and to hell with the tortoise. So, it’s obviously NOT ABOUT THE TORTOISE.
The grazing fees, measured in a monthly fee per cow/calf unit, are very, very cheap. Much cheaper than what it costs to graze on private land.
There are a huge number of these grazing leases thru-out the western states and in total, the cow/calf economy is huge and a substantial benefit to the western states.
And if you add up the congressional delegations from all these states, they have enough power in Congress to prevent Congress from raising the grazing fees.
That's by no means a sure thing.
Actually, the tortoise is NOT endangered by the cattle. Quite the opposite - the available tortoise habitat is enhanced and expanded by the cows. Here’s how it works:
Any animal must stay within range of water. The available habitat for any given species is that which is within range of water.
Cattle can range much farther than a tortoise, therefore cattle have more available habitat than a tortoise,
EXCEPT
A cow periodically drops a big green tortoise cafeteria, with food and water for the tortoises, on her habitat. This allows the tortoise to establish habitat beyond its normal range (without cows present) by using the convenient food and drink deposits so generously left by the cows. Evidently, cows enjoy the company of tortoises (or is that “tortoi”?)
So it is clearly not about the tortoise!