“Livestock grazing in southwestern Idaho and across the West has contributed significantly to intensity, severity, and enormity of fires this summer. Important habitat for sage-grouse, redband trout, other wildlife species is now ablaze. Despite the livestock industry’s claims to the contrary, the Idaho fires are burning hotter and faster because of the impacts of cows and sheep on our arid western lands.” Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.thewildlifenews.com
GR: The photo shows a degraded landscape that was covered by dense shrubs before domestic livestock grazing brought cheatgrass and other fire-prone winter/spring annuals to the region. Frequent fires have swept away the shrubs. The wild horses in the scene survive because a few sunflowers and other summer annuals appear after the cows are trucked away to feedlots each summer when the spring cheatgrass is all gone.
