Wolves, Water, and Roach Roast
Wolves
Do you want more wolves? Whether you do or don’t, you
are going to get them
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has
announced they are going to remove the current cap on the number of Mexican wolves.
The current cap is 320 wolves and the agency says there are 196 wolves
currently in the recovery area.
In response to a court order, the USFWS has prepared
an environmental impact statement (EIS) on their proposed changes. In the EIS
the agency has looked at three different options. However, everyone has focused
on the preferred alternative, which recommends rhe following:
- Remove the population limit from the 2015 10(j) rule,
which allows a maximum of 300-325 Mexican wolves in the experiment area.
- Increase the number of captive Mexican wolf releases,
with the goal of 22 released wolves surviving to breeding age by 2030.
- Restrict three forms of allowable take until genetic
diversity goals are reached. This includes take on nonfederal land in
conjunction with a removal action, take on federal land, and take in
response to an unacceptable impact on a wild ungulate herd.
Water
I
have written before on the waters of the united states (wotus) issue, primarily
from the administrative or rulemaking point of view. First we had the rule from
Obama to expands the feds control over water. Then came Trump who attempted to
peel control back, and now Biden, who wants to take us back to the Obama era.
In the midst of all this we have a Supreme Court case
which could resolve several of the issues.
You may recall the Sacketts, Michael and Chantell,and
their seventeen year battle to build a house on their own property. The EPA
denied them a permit and threatened fines of $75,000 a day. but eventually the
Supreme Court ruled 9-0, agreeing with the Sacketts that that decision was
subject to judicial review.
Now the Sacketts are back as the EPA still hasn’t
issued a permit and claims it has jurisdiction over the Sackett’s property. The
Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Sackett case and everyone expects to
finally receive a clear definition of “waters of the United States”.
Insects
Among all the weird things going on around us, I still
see mention of using insect meat to provide protein for human consumption and “fight hunger, boost nutrition and reduce
pollution.” And yes we have a United Nations Edible Insect Program.
The idea is not new, and here
is how I had fun with it nine years ago:
“Are you ready
for:
beetle barbeque
grasshopper gumbo
McMaggots
prime rib of spider
moth meatloaf
chile con cutworm
roach roast
tarantula t-bone
caterpillar caviar
rocky mountain scorpion oysters
fruit fly pie
Are you ready for:
insect whisperers
roach rodeos
county insect fairs
insect food pyramid
Purina insect feed
PETI”
And when the
issue came up again seven years ago, I wrote:
“Some university types and all the DC Deep Thinkers want ag producers to be early adopters and enter in to the latest management and production techniques.
Let’s analyze what this would bring us if we established an insect ranch.
We’d be way ahead on capital outlays and annual production costs:
° Instead of ropes all you need is a flyswatter
° You can brand with a toothpick
° Use thimbles for water tanks and popsicle sticks for fences
° You can trade your trailer for a matchbox, and
° Switch from bedeezers to tweezers
Like any new operation there will be challenges. For instance, how do you preg test a Praying Mantis?
But there would be fun things too. For instance, think of all the fun you’ll have marketing maggot meat.
I see one big drawback though: instead of calf fries on the campfire you’ll be having grasshopper gonads on your cigarette lighter.
Finally, the experts are really big on diversification. In addition to your insect ranch I would recommend you diversify by having…an ant farm.”
Until next time, be a nuisance to the devil and don’t forget to check that cinch.
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