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Let me tell you ’bout the Bears and the Bees!

March 31, 2014/in Blog, Tuesday Tribute, Uncategorized

 

Mountain LionFarming at an elevation of 8000 feet is challenging in itself. Farming while paying attention to the greater picture of environmental integrity is the vision of Zach and Jasmine Cecelic of the Wildhood Farm in Truchas New Mexico. A vision which is encapsulated in this line from Zach’s web-bio, “Today, he makes his personal philosophy a practice by creating room and habitat for all of his human and non-human friends.”

Jasmine talked freely and happily about her dedication to being a producer and honoring the natural world. When I spoke with her this afternoon, she told me where her motivation came from in these simple words,”why be at war with something when you don’t have to be?” What appears to be ‘the enemy’ when looking at predators is really just one part of an intricate system that can be used to incorporate wild lands and domestic food production in a successful symbiosis.

So, how have Zach and Jasmine gone about this process of living and farming peacefully with nature? Jasmine said that they started by using raptors for pest management. This cuts down on rodents but also limits the amount of fruit and nuts lost to smaller birds that like to gorge on the harvest!

This is the  way the Cecelic’s see things; as fragmentation diminishes wild habitat with every passing year, the central focus for all the things wild animals need in the form of food, water and shelter become more available ON THE FARM, thus setting the scene for more potential conflict. By having dedicated forested areas as well as pasture and by replanting native wild food sources on the peripheries of their land, Zach and Jasmine are able to give the wild buy valtrex online overnight ones the space they need and also produce their own crops unhindered.  The birds and bears even take care of distributing the wild native foods by moving them through their digestions and spreading the seeds ‘the natural way’.  Zach and Jasmine have learned that you must ‘think ahead’, and ‘plan for abundance’ so that the small amount of produce the wildlife share doesn’t negatively impact your yield.

There are mountain lions, coyotes and bears all around the high country where Wildhood farm nestles among the crags and high desert flora. Fruit trees and nut trees grow in abundance and there are flowers to tempt  bees whose hives have their place on the farm too.

A small amount of electric fencing courtesy of the forest service allows the bears to be safe from habituation to the hives, but Jasmine has even ‘thought ahead’ where the bees are concerned by allowing feral bees the space to pollinate across the land.

The coyotes help to control the small mammals, happy to eat their preferred prey  and not tempted to ‘steal’ from the farm.

The mountain lions are seldom, if ever, seen and  by listening carefully to some of the oldest of old-timers, Jasmine has learned how these predators were once valued for culling the sick or weak and for possibly saving the herd from disease outbreak.

The work at Wildhood Farm has only just begun. After  a year on the property the Cecelic’s have wonderful plans to continue their wildlife friendly operation in ways that  teach us all the possibilities that can happen when you see the bigger picture!

It was a delight to hear about Wildhood Farm. You can find out more at their website:

http://wildhoodfarm.com/about-us/

https://cougarfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CougarFundBlack.png 0 0 Penny https://cougarfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CougarFundBlack.png Penny2014-03-31 18:11:542014-03-31 18:11:54Let me tell you ’bout the Bears and the Bees!

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An important new study adds to the body of evidence being amassed by researchers that supports the important ecological contributions of cougars as a keystone species. A direct quote in the article from Panthera's Puma Program Director Mark Elbroch as follows, "To those who care for the well-being of wildlife and the wild habitats sustaining all living beings, these findings yet again demonstrate the value and need to conserve the Americas' pumas." ... See MoreSee Less

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Study suggests pumas utilize sly strategy of fertilizing plants that recruit prey to hunting grounds

phys.org

A new Panthera study published today in Landscape Ecology has found that pumas might utilize a sly hunting strategy known as 'garden to hunt,' by which puma kills fertilize or deposit nutrients in soi...
22 hours ago
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Remember all the things you did before they went into the den?BEAR SPRAY, MAKE NOISE, RECREATE IN GROUPS, FOOD STORAGE PRECAUTIONS, and be aware that energy out is very expensive for a bear after not eating for a few months so if there is a trail or winter track, that is probably the route the bear will choose...
Lets protect them by minding our own behaviour!

Remember all the things you did before they went into the den?BEAR SPRAY, MAKE NOISE, RECREATE IN GROUPS, FOOD STORAGE PRECAUTIONS, and be aware that energy out is very expensive for a bear after not eating for a few months so if there is a trail or winter track, that is probably the route the bear will choose...
Let's protect them by minding our own behaviour!(News Release) On Tuesday, March 7, a Yellowstone National Park wildlife biologist on a radio telemetry flight observed the first grizzly bear of 2023 to emerge from hibernation. The adult bear, estimated at 300-350 pounds, was seen near the remains of a bison carcass in Pelican Valley, in the central-eastern part of the park.

The first bear sighting of 2022 also occurred on March 7.

Male grizzlies come out of hibernation in early March. Females with cubs emerge in April and early May. When bears emerge from hibernation, they look for food and often feed on elk and bison that died over the winter. Sometimes, bears will react aggressively to encounters with people when feeding on carcasses.

“Spring visitors skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking in Yellowstone National Park are reminded to carry bear spray and be especially alert for bears near carcasses and areas with early spring green-up. These are the first foods sought out by grizzlies after emerging from hibernations,” said Kerry Gunther, the park's bear management biologist.

All of Yellowstone National Park is bear country: from the deepest backcountry to the boardwalks around Old Faithful. The park restricts certain visitor activities in locations where there is a high density of bears, along with elk and bison carcasses. Restrictions will begin in some bear management areas on March 10.

Learn more about how to protect yourself and the bears that people come here to enjoy: go.nps.gov/23006
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3 weeks ago
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I'm in the Southern Sangre de Cristo mountains. It's been a mild winter, very little snow, so I'm betting the Black Bears will be popping out soon.

I would love to see a bear. (From a safe distance for both of us, of course).

Better yet, don't stop being responsible in the wilderness under a false sense of security provided by pop-media ideas that they're in comas underground. Bears experience wakefulness during their supposed hibernation, and especially during periods of warmer weather they will come out for snacks.

Please protect our bear’s from Stupid people!!!!

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PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!
UTAH WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EMERGENCY
A couple of days ago we a shared delightful national article about cutting edge studies of cougars in Utah. Today those cougars need your help. HB469 will remove management of mountain lions from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and allow them to be HUNTED and TRAPPED year round without limit or regulation. HB469 passed without notice or opportunity for public comment. Wildlife is held in trust for ALL the public, not a few special interest groups. Elected officials also represent more than a few stakeholders and need to seek advice from seasoned researchers and scientists before making decisions about wildlife. Please POLITELY ask Governor Cox at 801-538-1000 to not sign HB469, currently on his desk. or email cs.utah.gov/s/submit
The video below was shared by Denise and the crew of @Utah Mountain Lion Conservation who are working tirelessly to study and protect lions and ensure their place as a keystone species in Utah.
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4 weeks ago
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Congratulations to Denise Peterson, dedicated to mountain lions, and to sharing the results of her hard work.
Thank you Denise!
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Trail Camera Catches Something Conservationists Have Been Dying To See

www.msn.com

Denise M. Peterson had been waiting months for this. Ever since Peterson, founder of the Utah Mountain Lion Conservation, noticed a female and male mountain lion roaming the area together, she'd been ...
1 month ago
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Thanks! I can't wait to get back up to check these cams to see how they're doing!

I saw this on The Dodo this morning. A mom with two kittens!

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