New Mexico Federal Lands News

NEW MEXICO FEDERAL LANDS NEWS

by Frank Dubois

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 the following:

Ї Remove the population limit from the 2015 10(j) rule, which allows a maximum of 300-325 Mexican wolves in the experiment area. Ї Increase the number of captive

Mexican wolf releases, with the goal of 22 released wolves surviving to breeding age by 2030. Ї 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 expand 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

Storage Tank

Hay Saver

Hay Wagon

Spider

Loading Chute

PUNCHY CATTLE COMPANY

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:

Ї Instead of ropes all you need is a flyswatter Ї You can brand with a toothpick Ї Use thimbles for water tanks and popsicle sticks for fences Ї You can trade your trailer for a matchbox, and Ї 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.

Frank DuBois was the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003, is the author of a blog: The Westerner (www.thewesterner.blogspot.com) and is the founder of The DuBois Rodeo Scholarship and The DuBois Western Heritage Foundation ▫