Livestock threatens endangered species in New Mexico and Arizona, study finds

Livestock are threatening endangered species in New Mexico and Arizona, a new study found. Protectionists say that if not changed immediately, destroyed habitat will never be restored.

For decades, cattle have been allowed to participate in uncontrolled grazing throughout the Southwest. This free grazing may be beneficial to cattle, but has catastrophic effects on local habitats, especially in Arizona and New Mexico.

according to Research conducted by the Center for BiodiversitySince 2017, 2,400 miles of surveys have been conducted in two states. Nearly half of these miles have suffered “significant harm” to endangered animal habitats, while 13% have suffered “moderate damage.”

Only 14% of the land surveyed did not have any damage at all.

Within the mileage of the surveythere are two agencies that supervise the “178 US Forest Service and 35 Land Administration Grazing Allocation” and “Critical Habitat.”

The investigation found that cattle, in particular, are destroying habitats that are crucial to the survival of endangered species.

this The most affected creatures include:

• Spidace

• load minnow

• Crazy liar

• Razor suction cup

• Chiricahua Leopard Frog

• Jims Hill sal

• Narrow hanging snake

• Northern Mexican gondola snake

• Southwest Willow Flycatcher

• Western yellow-mouthed cuckoo

• Owls found in Mexico

• New Mexico grass jumping mouse

• Jaguar

Livestock linger in habitat, land and waterways have been destroyed.

The damage has resulted in the removal of more than 3,600 cattle from the reserve so far. However, according to Chris Bugbee, a Southwest Conservation advocate for the Center for Biodiversity Southwest, more things need to be removed to give endangered species a chance to rebuild their populations.

“If hungry cows are allowed to devour and devour the rivers they devour year after year, these animals and plants have no chance of survival.” – Chris Bugbee

Fortunately, this study has some bright light. The area where cattle removal has begun to be repaired. According to Bugbee, while it takes decades to do a decade of repair, it suggests that habitats can return to their natural state when cattle do not belong to the equation.

How livestock threatens species in New Mexico and Arizona

As livestock are allowed to move freely in rural New Mexico and Arizona, they trampled on the earth while grazing. Habitat is lost or damaged. While healthier cattle roam rather than the cattle in the fence, it is when they enter the reserve that the actual problems are caused by threatened and endangered species.

In New Mexico and Arizona, animals that rely on streams and other waterways are especially risky when livestock enter the environment. Not only Habitat damaged by the large animals they trekbut they are also contaminated. This happens when cattle “defeat and urinate in the water.”

When this happens, not only animals that are killed after no longer have a properly inhabited habitat, but also It also prevents new riverside forests from growing. Without new riparian forests, waterways, waterway habitats cannot be established, and water is filtered correctly.

Given that water is an important commodity in the Southwest, it must be stopped before it is too late and endangered species cannot rebound their population.

What can be done to stop habitat damage caused by livestock

Given that uncontrolled livestock grazing is behind the habitat destruction of endangered animals in Arizona and New Mexico, it is clear that the first step is to stop unchecked grazing to save endangered animals.

When uncontrolled livestock grazing is controlled, it will Stop livestock from wandering to protected areas of allocated endangered species. This includes land areas under the care of the U.S. Forest Service and the Land Administration. Specifically, the Grand Stairs – Escalante and Aguafria National Monument as well as the Gila Box and the San Pedro Riverbank National Reserve have hovered livestock in these reserves and damaged habitat in the process.

According to Bugbee, stopping livestock losses will require the U.S. Forest Service, Land Administration and Fish and Wildlife Service to work with ranchers to better track livestock wanderings.

“Federal agencies can protect the most important habitat from livestock with minimal effort. These small and powerful parts of these small and powerful Southwest ecosystems are often failing to protect these small and powerful parts of these small and powerful Southwest ecosystems, and agencies are bringing endangered species closer to extinction. I hope this report will inspire them to act when they still have time.” – Chris Bugbee

As long as livestock can roam freely without restrictions, there is no meaningful protection of endangered animals. The cattle didn’t realize they were wandering in the reserve. Instead, they go to places with fresh water, doing so is causing serious damage to the fragile environmental organisms rather than being stubborn and just trying to survive.