The Ecology of Wind

The movement of air, born of Earth's perpetual cycles of heating and cooling, is what we know and experience as Wind. This invisible force of Nature is globally present and its effects on our planet are both subtle and profound. On the largest scale, wind directly affects climate and weather; the Gulf Stream, that Atlantic "river" of warm water flowing from the Caribbean to northern Europe, is set into motion by wind action. One of the results of this is that climate patterns on much of the Continent (the Mediterranean, British Isles, etc.) are ridiculously mild, especially given their northern latitudes. Powerful Trade Winds that scour the great deserts of Africa send enormous quantities of particulate westward, across the Atlantic which can block insolation from the sun, sometimes cooling areas in North America.

Recent studies strongly suggest that bacteria, which are transported into the atmosphere by Earth's winds, serve as the bulk of nucleation (condensation) sites for precipitation; that is, about 80% of the material that must be present for it to rain or snow anywhere on the planet is biological, and this stuff can only get where it needs to be by the grace of wind. On the Rocky Mountain Front, the effects of wind are always at hand. It, along with fire and precipitation, is the most influential force of change on the landscape. For much of the year, as air masses move from west to east, over the mountains and toward the prairie, they are funneled through our canyons. When a gas or liquid is forced through a constriction, it rapidly accelerates. This is called the Venturi effect and it is pronounced along the Front.

Where it is not anchored by grasses or other vegetation, wind will move significant quantities of soil across the land. A particle will travel until it finds a protected area such as a gully or the lee side of a hill and come to rest. The same thing happens with snow; the rare winter visitor will notice that a uniform blanket of snowfall doesn't stick around for very long on the prairie. (And this is a major boon for grazing animals who need exposed grasslands to survive.) Once wind becomes sustained, the white stuff will blow about and form very large drifts, often in the same locations where soil accumulates. These soil and snow deposition zones are important ecologically, since deeper soils and extra water over time translates in to more lush vegetation and therefore greater species diversity.

Plants and animals that live here must adapt to our frequent and often intense winds. A windy environment is very hard on native flora. The desiccating effects of wind can create near-desert conditions and cause outright physical damage to plants. Probably the most iconic example of a wind-adapted species on the Front is the Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis), for which the Pine Butte Swamp Preserve is named. This tree pumps a great deal of resin into its extremities, which gives it exceptional pliability. Since the needle-bearing limbs are the photosynthetic engine of the organism, it is critical that they be able to bend (and not break) when the gusts come. We should also note that it is the persistent, invisible hand of the wind that sculpts Limber Pine into the lovely, Bonsai-form it takes in these parts. While wind can be a hindrance to plant growth, it can also assure the continuity of many species. There may be hundreds of plants in the Northern Rockies which have adapted their pollen and seed dispersal strategies with the wind; an incalculable vector for genetic exchange and dissemination for sure.

The effects of high wind on fauna is noticeable; typically we are not able to observe much wildlife on a windy day, probably because it negatively affects the senses of hearing and smell which animals rely upon far more than we do. Usually the larger creatures (bears, elk, moose, deer) stay bedded down or otherwise remain close to cover on windy days. People too, have a general disdain for wind past a certain threshold. For the hunter, wind can camouflage the sounds one might make crawling through brush, but it can also make it impossible to hear the object of one's pursuit. Wind has played a significant role in human culture and civilization; it has affected the outcome of wars, powered mills, driven wildland fires and enabled the exploration of the world by sea. Today, Montana is witnessing a huge push to develop our wind resources for energy. While wind power will play an important role in the shift away from dependence on fossil fuels, if done improperly, it could have significant ecological impacts to grasslands, rare birds and bats.

Traditional Blackfeet, who have a unique, deep-time relationship with Miistakis, (The Backbone of the World-aka: The Rocky Mountain Front) consider it the dwelling place of Wind Maker. And if you've ever spent any time here outside of summer, you understand why. It was a fundamental force of Nature that constantly shaped the land and its people. Of course, it still is. Many of us who live here consider the wind to be something of a guardian of this place; an omnipresent factor that keeps the human population sustainably low. We can physically feel this ethereal force that seems both real and elusive. Depending on the context, it can be perceived as destructively "bad" (as in a major storm) or mercifully "good" (a cool breeze on a hot day). In this way and by the fact that wind possesses both a predictable and unpredictable nature, it does seem to be somehow alive. People have understood wind to be a harbinger of change, to represent freedom or provoke madness, and as embodying a sense of impermanence. I think it is no accident that in the past Wind, in the form of breath, was universally considered as the basic animating principal of Life itself; remember, the term for "breath" in Latin translates literally as spirit.

This post can also be viewed on the Pine Butte Blog

Hunting For Meaning

Snow now blankets the higher peaks of the Front and will likely remain there until early summer. Our local wildlife has several ways of dealing with the onset of colder Rocky Mountain weather. An organism can up and leave (think sandhill crane migration), store food (the lowly but adorable Pika), adapt and work hard (elk, deer, moose) or make a major physiological change: hibernation (bears, ground squirrles). The bears of the Front are still out and about trying to pack on as many calories as possible before the long sleep of winter. Their bodies are currently in a state called "hyperphagia" and the bruins may actively search for food up to 20 hours per day before packing it in to the den.

The human strategy for dealing with winter mostly falls into the food-storage catagory. Thus, as the seasonal change progresses, many Montanans are engaging in the yearly ritual of hunting big game, particularly deer and elk. Our state has the highest per-capita number of hunters of any, including Alaska. To a rural community like Choteau, this translates into some very real economic impacts; outfitters, sporting goods stores, game processors, motels and others, directly benefit from the influx of hunters.

Men and women choose to hunt for many reasons. Some are as basic as putting healthy, organic meat in the freezer to feed the family for another year. The simple joy of being out in the autumn landscape with friends and loved ones is often cited as one of the greatest pleasures in life for Montana hunters. Others may find active participation in the Food Web to be important, since we are mostly uninvolved with the production or harvest of our sustenance in modern society. For many, the act of killing an animal to sustain their own body is a deeply humbling, spiritual task that vividly reminds us of life's preciousness...and of our own mortality.

For this hunter, all of the above reasons are what motivate me to partake in the chase. Whatever our ancestry, if we go back far enough, we find that humans are a species that has hunted to live, and lived to hunt. Most of our evolutionary time on planet earth (about 98% of it) has been in pursuit of game. While some are uncomfortable with the idea of killing animals for any reason in today's world, hunting does represent an unbroken chain of connectivity with our ancestors and fellow hunters such as bears, lions and wolves to name a few. For me, the pursuit forces me to examine my ethics in the most real way. How and why I do this is critical and I constantly reexamine the reasons. In traditional hunting cultures for example, it is recognized that no pleasure is ever taken in ending an animal's life and sincere thanks must be given for the profound gift that the hunter recieves. It is a moral code worth following.

While most people don't hunt in the modern world as we did in the past, the impulse to seek, that is, to hunt, is irrepressible. The endless pursuit of knowledge, success, love, wisdom and meaning is universal among our kind. And speaking for myself, actually being out there hunting, (which in Montana means the possibility of also being hunted by fellow carnivores) is the most tactile, visceral way to engage in the Great Round of Life.

When early November comes, I'll be out on the Pine Butte Preserve stalking whitetails and thinking many thoughts. And I'll do my best to be there with pure intentions, in a good way.

This post can also be viewed on the Pine Butte Blog

Sacred Geography

The busy summer season has ended and, save the sounds of autumn, the Guest Ranch is silent. This is a time of ecological transition along the Front; days are shortening and the flora and fauna are responding to less sunlight and cooler tempratures. Our trees are sliding into their "hardening phase"; a type of dormancy that allows them to resist cell damage from freezing. Aspen and cottonwoods are putting on tremendous color shows, birds are staging in flocks to leave the country or are already gone.

There are transitions going on in the human community too. Ranchers have been shipping cattle to distant markets and hunters have begun to comb the landscape for game. Of course, children have returned to school. Fall is a prelude to the deeply introspective winter season, which is just around the corner. If you have visited the Guest Ranch before, you know it sits within a bigger landscape that is overwhelmingly beautiful and wild. The Northern Prairies abruptly collide with the Rocky Mountains here, with spectacular ecological and aesthetic results.

I've watched this place, the Rocky Mountain Front, bring people to tears many times. All cultures have in their religious traditions a concept of "Sacred Geography"; that is, places that are especially potent in a spiritual sense. In our deep past, we recognized particular caverns, mountains, springs and other natural features which spoke of "something else"; places which seemed to unify heaven and earth, where a sense of divinity is tangible. We know that there are many such places for Blackfeet people in the area; Ear Mountain is but one in a landscape overflowing with these spots.

The function of sacred places is to re-center the self, to find purpose to find meaning and to heal. In my short time as Naturalist at Pine Butte, I have noticed a near universal recognition of the Front as a Sacred Geography by our guests and others. Places like this, nearly complete ecologically and which invoke the divine for many, are rare in our world today. As important as conserving species and ecosystem processes is, we should also recognize the tremendous value this landscape has to the human spirit.

Pine Butte Guest Ranch is cradled in the canyon of the South Fork Teton and has acted as a gateway for visitors to the Front since 1930. People come from great distances to visit, and many return again and again . Now I think I know why.

This post can also be found on the Pine Butte Blog.

Wolves in Montana: The need for the hunt

Photo courtesy Montana FWP

The upcoming wolf hunting season in Montana, which begins in the backcountry on September 15th, will be the first ever "Fair Chase", regulated season on this important carnivore in our state's history. A quota of 75 animals has been set by the Montana Department of Fish Wildlife & Parks.

There has been a great deal of emotion flying around the decision to allow a hunt, following the de-listing of the wolf from the Endangered Species act this past May. There are essentially two sides to the argument; the "preserve the wolf at all costs" side, often populated by anti-hunting and animal-rights organizations who feel that a hunt equals extinction. Then there is the far-right position which says that wolves are a "cruel killer", annihilating all big game species and should be greatly depopulated. Both of these sides are essentially wrong.

The truth about living with Canis lupus in the modern West lies closer to the center.

Throughout the brief history of agriculture-based societies, the animal was maligned as a killer of livestock and a direct threat to human safety and progress. They were heavily persecuted by North American colonists from the earliest days of settlement. By the 1920's, the animal was largely extirpated from the contiguous 48 states. Earlier, pre-agricultural societies apparently did not view the animal in such sweepingly negative terms. The wolf in many traditional cultures was venerated as a keen and social hunter and as such, something of a kindred spirit. Early peoples may have learned hunting strategies directly from wolf societies as well as a great deal about animal behavior. And these same cultures occasionally stalked and killed the wolf, probably for the animal's hide and skull, with which they would hope to share some of its potent, mystical power.

The removal of the grey wolf from America has bankrupted the landscape ecologically and spiritually. Deer and other ungulate populations in many areas have exploded to unnaturally high levels in the wolves' absence. More people are likely injured by deer-car collisions each year than by any other wildlife encounter. Some populations of deer and elk have outstripped the carrying capacity of habitats, grazing vegetation down to nothing, and suffering from starvation and disease because of their high numbers and density.

It now appears that the presence of recovered wolf populations have directly benefitted many species from Aspen and beaver to songbirds. This is known as a "Trophic Cascade" by ecologists. Removal of top predators can have dramatic effects throughout the food web, which we are only beginning to understand. These and other legal arguments have been put forward by several environmental organizations in an effort to stop the upcoming wolf season here in Montana. The recovery goal set by the federal government for the state is 100 animals in 10 breeding pairs. The current population is estimated at about 500 individuals in 84 packs. The total number in the Northern Rockies (combined animals in Idaho, Wyoming & Montana) is about 1,600 critters.

My two cents on this contentious issue is that the best thing for the species is to allow sensible, regulated hunting at this point in time. There are a few reasons for this. First, the available habitat to sustain viable wolf populations into the future is dwindling. We're almost at the point in Montana where wolves inhabit nearly everywhere we're going to let them live. This is a wide ranging, top predator that hunts socially. The more livestock and pet depredations that occur, particularly close to communities, the less tolerance people will have for the wolf. And when tolerance wears thin, more wolves will be illegally killed. In time, there could also be human safety concerns.

While it is true that healthy wolves rarely attack humans, it is also true that there have been attacks in North America. Still, it is critical to understand that attacks are currently so rare, its almost not worth talking about. Far more people have negative and dangerous encounters with deer, bear and other animals. Still, I believe that it is necessary to remind wolves that humans should be avoided. The most practical way to accomplish this is a regulated hunting season, in addition to reasonable "predator control" actions where necessary.

The most difficult moral issue for me personally is the idea of killing such a beautiful animal and not eating it. While I might chow on canid flesh if I were in a life or death situation, it certainly isn't my first choice of wild game for the freezer. However, as part of a management strategy for the health and longevity of the population, conservationists should actively support the hunt.

This animal is a survivor, highly intelligent and can disperse incredible distances. There are now populations of wolves in Oregon and Washington state; direct descendants from the 1995-96 re-introductions to Yellowstone and Idaho. We must recognize the importance the wolf plays ecologically and socially for humans. But we must also understand that living with such an animal in the rural West is not without costs. It is not inconceivable that ranching families who are unable to run a profitable business because of excessive predation might be more likely to sell land to a developer for subdivision; and this is a far, far greater social and ecological loss than a few wolves.

Living in a ranching community, I recognize the symbolic importance of the hunt, which cannot be overstated. It says that the state of Montana will sustainably manage the wolf, just like every other large animal under their purview. In time, we will also create a constituency of wolf hunter-advocates; imagine in a decade or so, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Foundation. Who knows?

Finally, to those who consider wolves a "cruel" animal; please refrain from putting your simplistic human judgement on one of God's finest creations. While it may be unpleasant from a human perspective to see wolves grasp on to their prey (frequently by the anus) and begin to consume it while it is still living, it is a method and system that works well for this creature. Canids lack sharp, curved claws like cats to grasp animals for a "clean", spine-breaking kill. Also, it is important to remember that humans continue to be more consistently cruel and destructive toward nature and each other than any big bad wolf will ever be.

Wolves are here to stay and the population is significantly recovered. The hunt is part of an overall management strategy that will allow the species to thrive in the Northern Rockies into the future.

Wilderness Zen

Me and fellow "Zen Master" Eric in the high country of the Rocky Mountain Front

“To learn about the pine,

go to the pine.

To learn about the bamboo,

go to the bamboo.”

-Basho, 17^th Century

Proficiency in the wilderness arts is important for hunters and other backcountry travelers. But we should also have an overall set of guiding principals when interacting with the land we hunt in. A discipline I call “Wilderness Zen” is a philosophic but practical approach to wilderness travel where the individual embodies quiet confidence, heightened awareness and consciously interacts towards the land with humility. This is not hippy mysticism, but a way of being that has allowed our kind to thrive in wilderness environments for a very long time.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen people listening to iPods while they travel in grizzly country. They’re ill-equipped for wilderness travel (sometimes with just a .357 or a water bottle) are generally oblivious and seem to have the attitude that they are immune to mishap. Perhaps they expect a cell phone will bail them out. This is only one kind of backcountry klutz that I have no patience for, who does everything wrong and who is diametrically opposed to the “Wilderness Zen”-approach. Folks like this are a danger to themselves and others. Below are the core values and concepts we should seek to practice when we head far afield.

The Land is the Boss. We shouldn’t be afraid about a short walk in the woods becoming a survival situation, but we should take longer trips seriously, especially day-hunts. A universal among traditional hunting cultures is that they recognize the wilderness “holds the cards”, and therefore demands respect and humility. Though it doesn’t usually happen, the land can kick your butt at any time, for no apparent reason. It is way bigger than you. Don’t forget it.

Set your safety net. Let someone know where you are going, when you expect to return and what to do if you are late in perfectly clear terms.

Know yourself. Be honest about your cardiovascular health and physical limitations. Do you have an old injury that might act up on a backcountry trip? How do you behave when stressed, tired, hungry and possibly lost? Are you quick to anger, or do you roll with adversity and act to improve things in a positive way? Don’t blame yourself needlessly for mistakes; get over it and act intelligently to turn things around.

Seek quality and order. Your equipment should be the best you can afford, from reputable manufacturers and be time-tested. Unfortunately, most of the stuff advertised as “quality outdoor gear” today is garbage. Stick to the basics: when it comes to technology that may be enlisted to save your skin, (clothing, tools, cord, firestarting materials, shelter, sleeping gear, etc.) know what you are buying, practice regularly and keep in good working order. Inspect often and replace or repair as needed. In the backcountry, you should know where every piece of equipment is at all times and keep a Spartan camp, with everything in its place. Disorder is for the lazy and careless.

Learn the land. Short but frequent exploratory trips in your hunting area will allow you to build topographic and ecological knowledge quicker and more completely than one big trip a year. If something does go wrong on a short excursion, the consequences are generally less severe due to distance from the trailhead. You should be able to use a map and compass with confidence, even if you prefer a GPS. Simple technology is more reliable in the wild. Practice route finding in a familiar area and understand some basic barehanded navigation practices: i.e., the position of the sun, location of Polaris and which direction ridges and streams trend. Develop a love for the study of maps (Topophilia) as a year-round pastime.

Be conservative. Foster a “sixth sense” for danger. Before a sketchy situation begins to unfold, stop and think, “what could go wrong here and how should I respond?” In the bush, your mind should be clear and alert. Always be sensitive to the possibility of mishap when doing something as simple as handling a sharp knife or as complex as route finding across miles of tailless terrain. Correct your mistakes before they become dangerous. Situations, like having to buck and split wood by headlamp each night should tell you that something is wrong with your planning and use of time. Understand the practice of caution and avoidance. You are the biggest threat to your own safety. Listen to your instincts; they are often correct.

Engage all senses. Quiet, slow travel is essential for good hunting. It also allows us to take in more visual, aural and scent information. Slow walking is a kind of moving meditation that can clear the mind and body of tension allowing us to focus more intently on our surroundings. Realize that we are animals with purpose who belong in the wild, just like the prey we are stalking.

Adapt. Hunters face hazards that differ from those of other wilderness users. We handle potentially dangerous tools and firearms, frequently travel off-trail and tend to recreate in what can be a precarious “shoulder” season, autumn. One particular issue worth mentioning is dealing with a large animal on the ground, miles from camp. Sometimes hunters take unnecessary risks by pulling the trigger when they are overextended. This could result in an unplanned night out in the woods, spoiled game, or worse. Be sure you have the time and means to deal with your kill in a safe manner before taking the shot. Have an adaptable plan.

Embrace training. Study the wilderness arts and make them part of your recreation. The key is to practice relevant skills with attention to detail. Most books on the subject of bushcraft are terrible, but there are some gems out there. The same goes for instruction. Seek out quality teachers who know the skills, natural history and lore of the environment that you to travel in most frequently. It doesn’t make sense to study desert survival if you mostly recreate in the Northern Rockies or the Boreal Forest.

Give thanks. Wild country is a blessing. Respect it and the beings that live there. Also, wilderness should not be irrationally feared; consider it your home and act to conserve and protect it in every way you can. Travel safely and return to educate others about the importance of hunting, natural beauty and our wildland heritage. Practice Wilderness Zen.

A version of this piece appeared in Backcountry Journal and Minnesota Whitetails in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

On Trapping

The Pelt.

Two summers ago, I stood with about 13 guests in the Bellview School House on the Pine Butte Swamp Preserve and held a beaver pelt. The building houses part of our natural history collection and serves as an educational outpost on the prairie and orienting site for guests before heading out to explore the Preserve. I was about to launch into my talk about how the exploration of North America was largely driven by the search for beaver and how hugely influential this animal is to wetlands and other ecosystems wherever it occurs.

I was quickly interrupted by a guest who wanted to know how we acquired the pelt. I told her that the skin was likely donated to us by a local trapper for educational purposes, to which she replied, "...dirty bastard..." I tried not to respond in a manner that sounded defensive, since I frequently run into knee-jerk statements like this regarding such issues. I simply said, "Well, I'm a trapper." This left the guest a bit flabbergasted, awkwardly attempting to explain herself. I have found that many folks with a limited understanding of nature and rural culture, particularly if it has to do with wildlife, do not have well-informed or articulate notions about such matters. What she seemed to be saying was simply that in all cases, trappers and trapping is reprehensible and bad.

Yet, here before her stood an educator for a large and successful conservation organization...who claimed to be a trapper. Hmmm, she (like many others) seemed uncomfortable with this seemingly incongruous juxtaposition. A conservationist killer? I have taken it upon myself to challenge the ideas of people with regard to questions about humans and Nature. Specifically topics dealing with sustainability, living with predators, hunting, trapping, grazing, logging and conservation in general. And I have dealt not only with left-leaning urbanites, but right-leaning rednecks and pretty much everything in between. Never a dull moment for sure.

Few issues evoke such raw emotion as trapping. In this case, I was clearly dealing with a person who had strong feelings against trapping. In my work, it is important to be tactful and respectful of the views of others, while still being honest and direct. I began to talk about how looking at the whole ecological picture is important in forming opinions about such issues.

For example, other ways of making a living are not without their environmental impacts. I created a theoretical scenario; let's say there is a corporate lawyer who happens to have leanings towards conservation, but works for an institution which creates significant environmental impacts; an oil company, development corporation, whatever. This person, who receives a sizable paycheck, has the means to accumulate expensive material things and travel around the globe, visiting exotic nature reserves. The next person is a "local-rural-guy", who supplements his income with some beaver trapping. It gets him outside locally and as such, is part recreation and provides a service to local ranchers who would like to hang on to some of their cottonwood trees. The hunting and trapping of wildlife is managed by the state of Montana and is based on available habitat, population numbers, etc. It is not a "free for all".

So, who's livelihood has a greater impact on the land? If we examine this issue from a holistic standpoint it is a no-brainer. While the attorney's impacts are unseen and unrecognized, they are significant. I am admittedly painting a simplistic example of who might have less of an impact making their living, but am doing so to illustrate the fact that these issues are complex and often not black and white.

A group based in the Bitterroot Valley called Footloose Montana is explicitly trying to eradicate trapping in the state. There are some legitimate concerns mentioned on the website, but also a lot of hysteria in a manner similar to vehement anti-abortion folks or Islamic Jihadi-types. Most of the complaints surround the concern of domestic dogs getting into foothold or kill-type traps and this does occasionally happen. These issues will need to be dealt with by sitting down with all sides and hamming out some compromises.

Claims about trapping being "cruel" are not entirely honest. Of all the ways that animals regularly die in Nature, (starvation, disease, injury, deformity, freezing to death, predation) a well set kill trap is probably one of the least offensive and "cruel" from the perspective of the land. Foothold traps can be painful on some wildlife. I am not one who claims such implements are painless and I don't use them. Still, I recognize their usefulness in certain instances and the fact that there are "soft-grip" and other such devices available that are less likely to injure. Incidentally, we should recognize that the cruelest and most lethal agent to wildlife by far is our industrial society; if you think that you are somehow not complicit in the outright destruction of millions of living things each day, read the following roadkill information:

http://www.hcn.org/issues/291/15268

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadkill

This is the same industrial infrastructure that most of us drive regularly and which continuously transports all of our food, clothing, computers and other necessities of modern life. I don't hear too many calls for removing the nation's road network because of roadkill issues.

The problem with traps and dogs, particularly in areas like the Bitterroot Valley, has been more noticeable because of population growth and subsequent demographic changes. I find it interesting however, that some who oppose the killing of animals via trapping or hunting live in subdivisions which until recently, were prime wildlife habitat. The Bitterroot, like the Gallatin, Flathead and other valleys is a prime example of this.

Footloose Montana claims that it supports hunting and the tradition of hunting in Montana. This makes good political sense, since we have the highest per-capita hunting population in the United States. There is a strong message that hunting is good but trapping is bad. Apparently, there are some who believe that all hunts end with a quick and humane kill, but any honest hunter will tell you that this is not always the case. I have had to shoot animals more than once. I also know that there are some very ethical folks who have taken shots that unintentionally caused great suffering; limbs and jaws shot off, gut shot animals that were never found, etc. These things happen sometimes and it is unfortunate. But does this mean that hunting should be banned because accidents happen occasionally?

Should hunting be likewise banned because there are some unethical hunters out there? Concerns about dogs and traps is for me, a touchy issue. I love dogs, but there are times and places where I also hate them. There is no doubt that trapping affects wildlife populations. But there can also be no doubt that domestic dogs do the same. There are significant swaths of important habitat, particularly near urban areas, that over the past decade, have become overrun with dogs and people. I think its great that folks are outside recreating. But dogs displace and kill a lot of wildlife, both directly and indirectly. Dogs run through and spread noxious weeds with great efficiency. Dogs have been known to transmit canine parvovirus and other diseases to wild canids and non-canid animals. An excellent paper entitled Domestic Dogs in Wildlife Habitats paints a sobering picture of this phenomenon in the Rocky Mountain West.

The data then, suggests that dogs have a significant impact on wild animals and habitats. Some other stories about the effects of dogs on wildlife can be viewed here:

http://tchester.org/srp/lists/dogs.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3305601/Dog-walking-can-harm-wildlife.html

There are claims on the Footloose site that many trappers simply trap "recreationally"; this is an attempt to dismiss and minimize trapping's importance both economically and otherwise to those who "spring the steel". Firstly, the same could be said of hunting; one could claim that there is no fundamental need for hunting in the 21st Century. It is frequently called a cruel remnant from an earlier time by the animal-rights wing nuts. As we often see, many people who simply object to the killing of animals have sentimental projections towards nature and a corresponding ignorance of ecology. I've also noticed a deep misanthropy in some of these types as well as a decidedly urban mindset.

I am not a very accomplished trapper, but what little I've done thus far has proved to me that there is a corollary to hunting; it puts one into direct contact with wild animals and wild places and it is a nothing-hidden, primal relationship with nature, which is more than most people can say these days about their backpacking-style recreation or livelihoods. It has been said that hunting an animal such as an elk might be acceptable, because one is required to eat it by law, and that some poor folks might actually need the meat to survive. But trapping opponents claim that the craft is "done for money", which is meant to mean that it is somehow less acceptable. To which I answer, "who among us does not need money?". While it is likely true that most folks who trap do have other incomes, it doesn't make it "wrong" that they choose to supplement their incomes with a few pelts.

There are many complex and nuanced reasons for trapping, believe it or not. Personally, I am not out to make a living by selling marten pelts. But being out in the mountains trapping makes me feel directly engaged with the landscape and its processes. Like hunting, it creates a tremendous sense of belonging to Nature as well as inspiring a cultural link to the rich history of trapping in North America. Also, there are some very immediate wildlife management issues that require trapping particularly in the so-called "Wildland Urban Interface". (Trapping mountain lions that could endanger people in such areas comes to mind.)

Unlike the vastly successful "Ethical Hunting" or "Nature Hunter" movement in Montana and across the country, there has been almost no such corresponding organization or grassroots idea among the trapping community. This is unacceptable, especially since trapping has been so central to our shared cultural history. If trapping is going to survive our urban present and future, it must be discussed and argued about in a very, very erudite and intelligent manner.

The image of the bloodthirsty, cruel trapper plying his trade in the backcountry and "endangering" the public is powerful and must be overcome. Trapping based on ecology, legitimate cultural values and unassailable ethics is the only kind of trapping that will survive in the United States and elsewhere in the future. Seasons on rare animals like wolverine (in the Lower 48 States) should be halted immediately until such a time when their populations recover adequately. Those who find themselves thinking about their quarry in negative terms or as simply "dumb animals" or "dollar signs" should stop trapping completely. Needless to say, ignorant morons who commit illegal or tasteless acts with their sets should be turned in and busted to the full extent of the law. There are regulations that should be reexamined, and in some places creative solutions and compromises must be sought to alleviate user conflict on public lands.

Trapping, like hunting is a privilege and does have an honorable side to it. The beautiful creatures that end up in our traps are sentient beings with meaning and purpose and must never be reduced to "bodies" in our minds. The message, like hunting is, keep it legal, ethical and sacred.

Record-Setting Spring Storm

Fun for some in the back yard...

...but it did require snowshoes....

One of the impressive drifts (over 4 feet tall) atop a Choteau home.

Just about 2 feet of snow.

On monday, snow began to blow in from the North; typically when this happens in Montana in the spring, it can mean heavy snowfall and this storm did not disappoint.  At our place in Choteau, I measured an average of 22 inches of wet, heavy snow in the front yard, when it was all over, even though the "official" amount for town was 18 inches.  There were drifts (see photos) many feet tall atop homes all over town.  This was a record-setting event in many places around these parts.  

This time of year, many species of wildlife are coming back into the country. Birds are returning from wintering ranges, bears emerge from dens, deer and elk are starting to think about using other habitats as the grass begins to green up.  Consequently, late season storms like this presents a major challenge to all kinds of critters, both wild and domestic.  Imagine coming out of your den to a wet-heavy blizzard with no visibility or having to post-hole for miles just to find cover or forage.  This country is not without its risks and for sure, not without suffering.  

I noticed some weird assemblages of birds during and immediately after the storm; robin-killdeer-junco-yellow rumped-warbler "flocks" huddled together during the mayhem, probably just for psychological support!  I saw a large mixed flock of starlings and red-winged blackbirds in a cottonwood, in the driving wind and snow, calling loudly.  Bizarre events bring out bizarre behavior I suppose.  

As hard hit as we were on our little corner of the Front, the community of St. Mary, adjacent to Glacier National Park was hammered with an awe-inspiring FIVE FEET of moisture-laden snow which produced breathtaking drifts of 12 or more feet tall.  Many small towns in that area were completely isolated for some time post-storm.  It is bound to take a while to dig out from that kind of dump.  

If a quick warmup or significant rain-on-snow event follows, we're in for some major flooding for sure.  Still, I'll take it over a pronounced absence of water, like the severe, decade-long drought the Northern Rockies had been enduring, until last year.  I think I speak for pretty much everyone around here; yes, we'll take the moisture!!