Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

Yesterday while preg checking the replacement heifers my oldest daughter made a great observation. While fighting with a particularly recalcitrant heifer she said, "Now I know why we eat you." How many cattlemen have you seen that are vegetarian? Most all of them love beef. It is kind of just deserts or revenge for having to deal with the dumb critters.

I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it. Garrison Keillor

It definitely was a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Taken 8/16/2008.

Didn't I tell you this would happen when the wolf was first de-listed?

Judge puts wolf protection rules back in force

A federal judge has restored endangered-species protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies, derailing plans by three states to hold public wolf hunts in the fall.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula granted a preliminary injunction late Friday restoring protections for the wolves in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.

Molloy will eventually decide whether the injunction should be permanent. That would force the government back to the beginning in its effort to pass management of the animals to the states.

I sure enough did and now it has happened. The wolf is back under federal ESA protection since the states are incapable of managing them, at least according to this judge.

I love some of the reasoning involved here. The judge states that;

the states’ defense of property laws permit the killing of wolves in more circumstances than defense of property regulations under the ESA.

Which seems to indicate that people are allowed to blaze away at the wolf for no reason, but later he states that;

Because Idaho has committed to managing for at least 15 breeding pairs, its depredation control law is not likely to threaten the continued existence of the wolf in Idaho.

and

Montana’s depredation control law is not likely to threaten the continued existence of the wolf for the same reasons.

So at least two of the states involved have adequate protections according to him but he still paints us all with one brush.

I also can't understand why the talk in the decision revolves around protecting the introduced population of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Area but then talks about the indigenous population of wolves in the Northwestern part of Montana in the same sentence. It seems to indicate that the wolves in the Northwestern part of Montana are also introduced when they are not. This conversation is all about the wolves having genetic distribution to other areas and how there is no proof that it has happened yet.

I will point out that there is no proof it hasn't happened yet either. Since, according to the International wolf center, a dispersing wolves, those leaving packs in search of their own mate, have been known to travel distances of 550 miles away form their home territory, it should be fairly easy for the wolves to exchange genetic information and we might never know. If it hasn't happened yet, maybe the more important question should be, why haven't the wolves been dispersing like they are known to do? Why hasn't the genetic transfer taken place yet? Maybe because they breed so prolifically that they don't need to.

I'm just sick and tired of the whole game. Whether it is wolves or something else. Sue, counter sue. Everybody is always wrong and there never seems to be a right answer. It just paralyzes the whole country and nothing ever gets accomplished except spend more money spinning our wheels. How useless.

The torment of human frustration, whatever its immediate cause, is the knowledge that the self is in prison, its vital force and "mangled mind" leaking away in lonely, wasteful self-conflict. Elizabeth Drew

Yea, I Know. I haven't been around much lately. I don't know what to say. After about 5 years I just lost the impulse to say anything. Once I didn't for a few days there was nbo pressure on me to do it again. Am I going to promise to do better? I don't think that would be wise at this point. I don't know that I am ready to start posting again. It is more a wait and see proposition.

I will admit that writing here feels good so maybe that is a good thing. Something to think about that's for sure.

The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time. Abraham Lincoln

A fairly rare sight around here. Big, old Snapping turtle. Normally you see them near water but this one was quite a ways away from any. Must be traveling to a new watershed. Taken 06/27/2008.

Trailing the yearlings to fresh pasture. There was nothing wrong with where they were at but I do need to save some grass there for later in the year so it was time to move them. taken 6/24/2008.

USCA Calls For Long-Term Brucellosis Eradication Program Within Greater Yellowstone Area

USCA (June 23, 2008) - On Monday, June 9 state and federal animal health officials confirmed the presence of brucellosis in a suspect cow located in the Paradise Valley of Montana. Days later, two additional cases of the disease were confirmed near Daniel, Wyoming. Further testing shows another thirteen head of cattle in the same Daniel herd have been exposed to brucellosis.

The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) said today that it is calling upon the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reduce bison and elk numbers within the Yellowstone National Park to numbers consistent with forage availability and to work with affected states to undertake an aggressive long-term brucellosis eradication program in the Greater Yellowstone Area.

"The epidemiological investigation into the source of these outbreaks must be completed before all the facts are known," said Jon Wooster, USCA President, San Lucas, Calif. "However, the proximity of these disease outbreaks to the park is a signal that a proactive plan is needed. The bison and elk herds within Yellowstone National Park are this nation’s last reservoir for bovine brucellosis, which puts those wildlife herds and surrounding domestic livestock at grave risk. Montana and Wyoming cattle producers have done all they can to manage the disease, but are at continued risk because of exposure to infection from wild bison and elk. It’s time for the Department of the Interior to undertake an aggressive management program that will eradicate this problematic disease once and for all."

In May 2007, brucellosis was discovered in a Bridger, Montana cattle herd. Under USDA regulations, the finding of the most recent case will cause the State of Montana to lose its brucellosis-free status. Wyoming’s class free status will be compromised if the disease is found in another herd or if the Daniel rancher declines to depopulate his entire herd within 60 days of the finding. When a state loses its class free status, producers are required to test sexually intact cattle. Wyoming cattle herds that have had fence-line contact, have grazed in common with the infected herd, and any bulls sold from the infected herd will be tested for the disease.

Bison numbers in the Greater Yellowstone Area exceed forage production, causing over-grazing and migration of infected bison, elk and moose from the park’s boundaries. "Cattle producers have worked for more than half a century at enormous cost to eradicate brucellosis in cattle herds across the country," said Chuck Kiker, Beaumont, TX, USCA’s Animal Health Committee chairman. "One of the greatest risks of infection for cattle today is exposure to infected ruminant wildlife. Evidence demonstrates that the region surrounding Yellowstone National Park is a hot bed for brucellosis outbreaks. Obviously, we need an aggressive management approach that will result in total eradication of this disease."

"It is readily apparent that Wyoming and Montana cattle producers have been diligently proactive with regard to managing the risk of brucellosis transmission." added Wooster. "Herds associated with the infected cattle are under quarantine until whole-herd testing is completed. The consequences of these outbreaks are severe for the live cattle industry in both of these states. USCA will monitor this situation closely to ensure that appropriate and just indemnification is awarded to owners of affected herds and we will work to encourage federal and state officials to undertake a long-term plan that will shield Montana and Wyoming cattle producers from disease risk."

It's nice to know someone else holds the Federal Government responsible for the animals under their control. If we as private citizens are required to control Brucellosis, so should the Government.

Study: Moving virus research could be costly

An outbreak of one of the most contagious animal diseases from any of five locations the White House is considering for a new high-security research laboratory would be more devastating to the U.S. economy than from the isolated island laboratory where such research is now conducted, says a report published Friday.

Anybody with half a brain knew this. The question is will the government listen? Will they listen to an ounce of common sense? I doubt it.

Pulled the baby yearling bulls off of the replacement heifers yesterday. Forty five days of breeding is enough. If they didn't catch by now I don't need them around. Taken 6/16/2008.

Montana to lose its status as brucellosis-free

A Paradise Valley cow has tested positive for brucellosis, costing Montana its status as a brucellosis-free state.

The announcement came Monday afternoon and means Montana cattlemen must now test all bulls and nonspayed heifers older than 18 months before they can be sold to out-of-state buyers.

Well, we all knew it was going to happen. It was just a matter of when. It's amazing how everyone, except cattlemen, claims the problem is not from Yellowstone National Park yet that is the area the cows keep coming from that have it.

I have scheduled to sell a semi load of drys on the market Wednesday. How will this affect selling the drys? I have no idea. No guts, no glory. They are going down the road and I will find out the hard way.

Hardin Prison wins.

Judge overturns opinion from AG on detention facility

A Hardin detention facility can take federal and out-of-state inmates, a Helena District Court judge has ruled.

Judge Jeffrey Sherlock's ruling overturns an opinion issued in December by Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath. The decision barred Two Rivers Detention Facility from taking inmates from the federal system or other states.

Now they can start taking prisoners in. I hope they enjoy themselves.

I know I haven't posted for a bit and I am sorry. The boy had a medical condition come up that removed my eye from the ball and caused a personal medical condition for me. Don't worry, all will be all right, just not much time for the computer right now. Hell, I am not even dealing with e-mail right now. Give me time though. All will get straightened out.

We got in one of the neighbors braidings that was missed due to all the rain. Here you see the cattle streaming towards the corral. It sure was a nice day. Taken 5/29/2008.

I'm real tired of people.

SKoreans protest against US beef deal

Thousands of protesters marched through Seoul against a U.S. beef import pact that has renewed fears of mad cow disease. Police said Tuesday that 30 demonstrators were arrested after scuffling erupted.

What, do these idiots think, Americans are dropping over left and right from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease caused by bse? Maybe they need to check the facts out about the incidence of bse and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ibn the US. Slim to none. What idiots.

It has rained now for about 3 days now. We have got around 3 inches of rain. How nice. Two neighbors have canceled brandings because of all the rain. I'm sure glad mine is done. I am reminded of something I heard an old timer say a while ago.

"The way to make money ranching in Montana is to sit in the house and watch it rain." How true.