Cat Urbigkit
Latest from Cat Urbigkit
Grizzly Recovery Reflected in Upper Green Conflict
The Bridger-Teton National Forests announcement of its decision to reauthorize cattle grazing in the Upper Green River region 30 miles north of Pinedale was met with the predictable hysteria of anti-grazing activists who claim the plan institutionalizes overgrazing and negligent livestock management on national forest lands. These activists are pushing to rid public lands of livestock and cite conflicts between grizzly bears and cattle in the Upper Green to justify their position. Its no matter that the truth undermines their outrageous claims.
Cat UrbigkitOctober 21, 2019
Get real: Dumping Disneyland for nature
With more than 80 percent of the American public residing in urban areas, I understand the importance of connecting people to nature. But rather than have the American public remain ignorant about the natural world and its wild animals, we need to work to educate the public of the reality of human-wildlife conflicts so that we can seek to minimize these conflicts.
Cat UrbigkitOctober 14, 2019
Dear Hunters
I am happy that youre out having adventures, and hopefully getting some tasty meat for the freezer. I know that you look forward to hunting season all year long, and its a big part of why you are in this great state, whether as a resident or a visitor. And I appreciate that so far this year, all but one of you have honored our ranch gates by leaving them as you find them.
Cat UrbigkitOctober 07, 2019
The World’s Gone Crazy Cotillion
Every now and then, my brain hits playback on the Waylon Jennings song The Worlds Gone Crazy (Cotillion) written by Jennings and Shel Silverstein. Last week the song was stuck in my head, as the lyrics are apropos to much current news.
Cat UrbigkitSeptember 30, 2019
The Nature of Conflict: Managing Wildlife Damage
I spent last week in our nation's capital, one of 20 citizens from around the country gathered to serve on the national advisory committee for USDA Wildlife Services. The committees job is to provide recommendations to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue, on policies and program issues necessary to manage damage caused by depredating wildlife to safeguard our nation's resources and safeguard public health and safety. Since Wildlife Services is tasked with resolving wildlife conflicts, much of what we discussed was about conflict.
Cat UrbigkitSeptember 23, 2019
Not To Be Critical, But Let’s Try Critical Thinking: From fast fashion to landlocked public lands, the devil is in the details.
Im a news hound, and when I come across a topic that interests me, I try to read about that topic from a variety of news sources in attempt to see a range of perspectives. I read news from major media in the United States, Europe, Russia, and Turkey on a regular basis. Every few days I hear or read statements that give me pause. I am routinely perplexed at reporters allowing these statements to go unchallenged not even questioning the veracity of the claims being made.
Cat UrbigkitSeptember 16, 2019
Are “Guard Coyotes” A Thing?
Predator-prey systems (including predator-livestock conflicts) are complicated, multi-faceted, and site-specific, but an Oregon Extension publication has provided a broad solution for those of us in animal agriculture, virtually eliminating the need for lethal control of predators: Keeping well-behaved breeding pairs of coyotes in place in their territories to exclude other coyotes that may kill sheep. Thus, keeping these guard coyotes and guard wolves in place serves to protect our livestock.
Cat UrbigkitSeptember 09, 2019
Range Writing: Meet the Sugar Ray Leonard of raptors
In all my half-century of life, Ive never encountered a kestrel without being happy about it. Just seeing a kestrel perched on a wire gives me a thrill it always has, and I suppose it always will.
Cat UrbigkitSeptember 02, 2019
Bear Attacks Increasing Worldwide
A French composer on a trip to Canadas Northwest Territories to record the sounds of nature was attacked in his tent in the middle of the night and killed by a grizzly bear earlier this month. Such an unprovoked attack is rare, according to wildlife officials, although large carnivore attacks on humans are on the increase worldwide. Grizzly bear attacks on humans in Wyoming are part of that worldwide trend.
Cat UrbigkitAugust 26, 2019
In defense of gun ownership, a primer on a varied and valuable American tool
When major media in our nation talk about guns, the discussion involves speakers in metropolitan areas, usually after a horrendous tragedy. They arent airing interviews of people who take their children out with gundogs to hunt birds; elk hunters preparing for mountain trips theyve dreamed about for years; former military members who enjoy competitive shooting sports; women who train to never become victims; gun collectors dedicated to preserving history; or ranchers who use firearms as tools, to name a few.
Cat UrbigkitAugust 19, 2019
On Climate Change & Cattle Production
The latest report coming from the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is focused on climate change and land, but something must have been garbled in the translation from Geneva because much of the U.S.-media translation emphasized that people should eat less beef and quit wasting so much food. That unfortunate result comes from reporters unwilling to make the time and effort to read the report itself, which at hundreds of pages and still in draft form makes for an interesting but not-pleasant task.
Cat UrbigkitAugust 12, 2019
Facebook Needs Agriculture, & Ag Needs Facebook
A lot of my ag friends are switching social media platforms, leaving Facebook (FB) for greener pastures. Green as in $$, since FBs commerce policy forbids posts that promote the sale of any animals. Although animal-sale posts are still rampant on the platform, FB began cracking down on the posts in the last few years and has increased that activity in the last few months.
Cat UrbigkitAugust 05, 2019