Crucial mule deer range and sage grouse core habitat caused wildlife managers to ask that the large commercial operation be relocated, but the requests, which haven’t been discussed publicly, have had little bearing on plans so far.
Wyoming has similar demographics to Montana, so I’ll just share this.
I was in a class with a guest lecturer talking about autonomous farm vehicles. One of these has sensors that can recognize a rabbit in its path and will stop until the rabbit moves on. One of my classmates said, “That’s stupid! It’s just a rabbit”, and others agreed with him.
I’ve also seen my city open up hunting on beavers, because they flood the (city-owned) plains where ranchers let their livestock roam for free. Wildlife are just pests to these people, and being a wildlife biologist in these areas is very much a political task.
If left unchecked, they breed into the thousands in a few years and eat the same amount as hundreds of sheep, deer, etc. they destroy their own local enviroment by killing plants. Reducing biodiversity, restricting food sources for other wild animals, etc.
Exactly! I’ve lived in this area for six years and just saw my first swift fox last month. They nearly went extinct because farmers were killing them. These little foxes eat rabbits, mice, and insects like grasshoppers, so you’d think they would be good to have around
Rabbit was the example given. But the robot stops for any animals, including sage grouse, swift fox, and black footed ferrets which are endangered in this area due to loss of habitat.
Wyoming has similar demographics to Montana, so I’ll just share this.
I was in a class with a guest lecturer talking about autonomous farm vehicles. One of these has sensors that can recognize a rabbit in its path and will stop until the rabbit moves on. One of my classmates said, “That’s stupid! It’s just a rabbit”, and others agreed with him.
I’ve also seen my city open up hunting on beavers, because they flood the (city-owned) plains where ranchers let their livestock roam for free. Wildlife are just pests to these people, and being a wildlife biologist in these areas is very much a political task.
Rabbits are literally, by definition, pests. Since they cause millions in damages to farms every year.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pest
If left unchecked, they breed into the thousands in a few years and eat the same amount as hundreds of sheep, deer, etc. they destroy their own local enviroment by killing plants. Reducing biodiversity, restricting food sources for other wild animals, etc.
It’s almost like they need more predators to keep the rabbit numbers in check. Oh wait, the ranchers are opposed to those as well.
Exactly! I’ve lived in this area for six years and just saw my first swift fox last month. They nearly went extinct because farmers were killing them. These little foxes eat rabbits, mice, and insects like grasshoppers, so you’d think they would be good to have around
Rabbit was the example given. But the robot stops for any animals, including sage grouse, swift fox, and black footed ferrets which are endangered in this area due to loss of habitat.