Cattle grazing and misplaced priorities (v2.0)
-- Summary --
- This unique area is being damaged by cattle. This spring, the cattle may well return to the site, to wallow in new mud holes and tear up rare plants that are supposedly protected by conservation easements.
- An entire year of research, which was in part completed with the help of three of my coworkers, has been destroyed. I have estimated the dollar value of the lost materials and time to be approximately $1600--this will not be compensated for by the ranchers.
- A crop of seed, developed in 2001 and intended for free distribution to the horticultural trade to decrease poaching pressure on the yellow-flowered Cobra Lilies has been destroyed.
- The land owners do not want the cattle returning to their property, because they value the natural attributes of the wetland site; they also do not like the cattle on the rest of their property, where they are wallowing, crapping, and grazing illegally.
- The Forest Service has told me that they are taking steps to encourage the rancher to be more responsible with the cattle. They have not yet disclosed what these steps will be, but I will report them at this page when I am informed as to their specific nature and efficacy. The Forest Service did provide a brief overview of past and planned actions in this matter. To see this information, look at the previous page.
- You can be sure that I will also post updates on additional cattle damage.
- Will I continue research on Cobra Lilies? Not in 2002! I have no confidence this site will not be visited again by cattle, and since this is the only site within a reasonable distance from me I have no alternatives. Furthermore, the extreme amount of damage the cows caused in 2001 will need time to heal. Cows and scientists should stay away for at least a year. Sigh.
-- How to help--
I have spoken with staff from the Forest Service, and am quite
convinced that the staff I spoke with
are dedicated to conservation and respect
native resources. They told me that in the near future
they will be releasing information about steps they will be taking
(as the agency responsible for providing grazing permits) to prevent
cattle from returning to this site.
Probably the best thing to do at this point is to sit on our hands
and see what the new year of grazing brings.
I hope it is not more bullscat!
Cobra Lilies (Darlingtonia californica) are extraordinary,
carnivorous plants found only in the mountainous regions of California
and western Oregon. These are wetland plants, and are usually found
growing in the harsh environments associated with serpentinic outcrops.
The grand leaves are bizarrely modified to attract insect prey---these
are carnivores! Yet within the plants, other insect species find safe
haven and breed. Cobra Lilies are actually rare ecosystems themselves,
growing in rare montane wetlands.
