Home on the Range

Cattle Grazing on Public Lands

History of Open-Ranging

Impact on Ecosystems

Impact on Wildlife

--Predatory Animals

--Nuisance Animals

Take Action

History of Open-Ranging                                                               Back to Top

Proponents of the beef industry argue cattle have been grazing on public land since white settlers began trekking westward across the country. They claim it is a long-standing tradition and use this excuse as validation for farming a foreign species, destroying our prairies, and slaughtering our native predators.

Longhorn cattle, a nonnative species introduced into Texas by Spanish missionaries in the 1700s, became prolific in a short amount of time. Most ranches at the time used the Spanish style of open-ranging to raise their cattle. These cattle became so numerous in Texas by the early 1900s cowboys began selling them to other states, moving herds across the West.

During this time, authorities did not regulate cattle grazing on public land. It was not until 1934 that the government took notice of the damage overgrazing causes to the soil and environment. The Taylor Grazing Act, enacted in 1934, attempted to regulate grazing on federal public lands by establishing grazing districts, using a permit system, and imposing fees for each district. By passing this act, the government could keep track of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands. The act also required a study of erosion and flood control and protection and rehabilitation of eroding land. BLM did not exercise its authority to rehabilitate the land at that time.

In 1976, Congress passed the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, requiring all permits to include allotment-management plans, ensuring that each district had a land management plan. In 1978, Congress passed the Public Rangelands Improvement Act, establishing a formula to determine federal grazing fees. However, BLM continued to fail to control the ecological damage caused by overgrazing. Because of this, the impacts of intensive grazing in the West continue to be substantial today.

Impact on Ecosystems                                                                  Back to Top

The very land on which open-range cattle are raised is eroding beneath them, devastating native vegetation, deteriorating water quality, and drastically reducing native wildlife populations. Unlike native species of deer and elk, cattle do not roam as they graze. The herd will stay in one location until all grasses are consumed before moving on. Many native vegetative species are unable to recover and have vanished from the West. In fact, even vegetation not consumed by cattle is put at risk by intensive grazing. Because the soil is more exposed to the sun when tall grasses are removed, water evaporates faster. Therefore, non-consumed vegetation becomes dehydrated and dies.

Soil exposure caused by overgrazing is also responsible for the decline in water quality in Western streams and rivers. Like native species, cattle are drawn to riparian areas, lush grasses surrounding water sources, for nourishment. The banks of these streams and rivers become trampled and collapse into the water, increasing sediment loads and causing channels to widen. The sun-bleached and exposed soil, lack of vegetation around water sources, and increased nitrogen levels from manure increase water temperatures, reduce oxygen levels, and contribute to the decline of native fish and amphibian populations. These native fish and amphibians play a vital role in their ecosystems. Open-range ranching clearly harms local habitats and undermines larger ecosystems vital to native wildlife.

Impact on Wildlife                                                                        Back to Top

Not only riparian life is suffering at the expense of open-range cattle grazing. Native animals, such as bison, elk, sheep, deer, and antelope, are competing for similar foods and are suffering declining populations because the cattle leave no vegetation in their wake. Vegetation loss also contributes to declining populations because there are fewer places for animals to hide when being pursued by predators. Also, because there are fewer places for native animals to build their homes, species of birds have been disappearing from the West. These are not only Western birds, but any species of bird that migrates through these areas.

Predatory Animals                                                                           Back to Top

Wildlife is affected indirectly by overgrazing, yet it is affected directly by ranchers slaughtering tens of thousands of predatory animals each year on public lands to keep their herds safe. A large portion of the massacring on lands that are supposed to be natural is federally funded. Taxpayer dollars are paying to hunt coyotes, wolves, foxes, bears, and mountain lions and slaughter them in horrendous ways. These creatures are chased and shot at from helicopters, they are trapped and killed, and they are poisoned. Some ranchers and government officials even practice “denning,” which entails filling a den containing newborn pups with poisonous gas to effectively kill the animals before they have the chance to grow up to be predators.

These extreme measures are supported by ranchers and the government because of the “us or them” mentality adopted by the majority of the beef industry. Many people believe all predatory animals should be eliminated because they have the potential to harm livestock. It does not seem to matter that many notable studies have shown that the leading cause of death among livestock has consistently been respiratory problems, closely followed by digestive problems. The third cause is calving complications. In fact, when causes of cattle loss are examined as a whole, predation is a small portion.

What ranchers and the government are not paying attention to are studies that show slaughtering predatory animals, such as coyotes, only causes numbers to increase. These animals have the ability to increase reproduction when the population begins to decrease, causing numbers to skyrocket. Killing predatory animals only temporarily alleviates the perceived problem, ultimately exacerbating the issue.

Nuisance Animals                                                                              Back to Top

Predators are not the only animals affected by open-range cattle ranching. Animals considered to be nuisance animals by ranchers, such as prairie dogs, birds, squirrels, raccoons, ferrets, wild horses, and buffalo, are also being slaughtered to protect livestock. Some of these animals, such as birds and squirrels, are killed with the intention of eliminating the chance they could spread disease. Animals who burrow, like prairie dogs and ferrets, are being eliminated in the West because ranchers are worried their cattle might injure themselves by stepping in a hole. Still others, such as wild horses and bison, are being killed because ranchers are concerned about competition for food.

Not only is mass farming of cattle cruel to the cattle and supports an inhumane industry, but also it is clearly environmentally destructive and causes severe harm to wildlife. Native species will eventually become extinct, water sources will dry up, and the land will become barren and arid.

Take Action to Protect Public Lands           

What can you do to protect public lands from the dangers of cattle open-ranging? First, realize the need for open-ranging can be reduced if you select a plant-based, rather than a meat-based, diet. Other humane actions include:

• Educate yourself, friends, and family on the destruction open-ranging can cause to the environment and to the lives of predators, prey, and livestock.
• Contact your legislators and ask them to support legislation to keep cattle ranchers on privately-owned lands.
• Take a vacation to these public lands and see first-hand what is happening to the beauty of our country.

April 2009                                                                                               Back to Top