Prairie Guardians: Conservation and Ranching in Montana

Guest post by Summer Program student Emory Beer - 

In the final section of the Clemson Prairie Ecology course, we focused on wildlife restoration and conservation. We engaged with various individuals discussing topics such as birds, bison, grass banks, and ranchers. We even participated in making a permanent difference for wildlife by taking down an old barbed wire fence. These experiences deepened my understanding of sustaining Montana's remaining grassland prairies. Maintaining the ecological processes that support the prairie is crucial for preserving native plants, wildlife, and soil. Over the years, factors such as cattle ranching, overgrazing, row crop agriculture, fire suppression, and invasive species have significantly shaped the landscape.

In our discussions with people from Montana, it became evident that the primary challenge in prairie conservation is the competition for space between wildlife and ranchers. As someone raised on a cow-calf operation in South Carolina and taught the importance of agriculture, I found it challenging to hear that ranchers face yet another obstacle. However, ranching culture in Montana struggles similarly to wildlife. A representative from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) at the Matador Ranch explained that ranchers are often land-rich but cash-poor. They invest all their resources into production, rarely save for retirement, and sometimes never retire. This financial burden makes it difficult for the next generation to take over the ranch, contributing to the conversion of prairie land into cropland. This practice is difficult as children or next of kin to take over the ranch do not have the funds for a million-dollar ranch. 

The TNC assists ranchers through a grass bank for cattle if they follow conservation incentives, such as not plowing prairie on their land, not shooting prairie dogs, and installing wildlife-friendly fencing. These incentives lower the lease agreement cost, encouraging wildlife protection and preventing the conversion of grasslands into cropland. 

Another organization, the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA), believes ranchers can be conservationists, though not in the traditional sense like the American Prairie Reserve (APR). The RSA is rancher-led and focuses on rancher education, conservation projects, and economic support. They help ranchers implement conservation practices, such as wildlife-friendly fencing, enhanced water systems, bird escape ramps, and soil health improvements. Martin Townsend, the RSA's conservation coordinator, explained that ranchers are hesitant to sign conservation contracts if they are too closely associated with conservationists. However, as we further discussed, it came to my attention that most ranchers are already doing conservation work and are unaware of it. For example, if an Elk or Pronghorn tears up a fence, the ranchers will make the bottom wire higher off the ground so they do not create holes. The RSA provides funds for these efforts, reducing the financial burden on ranchers. Building trust with ranchers is key to making wildlife conservation more prevalent in Montana's culture over the coming generations.The RSA will continue to build trust with ranchers, and wildlife conservation will become more prevalent in Montana's culture over the next generations. 

During our course, we explored another approach to conservation through conversations with Smithsonian fellows, employees of the American Prairie Reserve (APR), and volunteering with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers to take down fencing. Our discussions with APR, particularly with Danny Kinka, provided insights into their rewilding mission, especially for bison. Danny explained that APR acquires private land, opens it to the public, and focuses on restoring biodiversity. Their large-scale conservation goal is to restore 3.2 million acres through a combination of public, leased, and deeded land. Once APR purchases land, they let nature take its course, supplemented by research to accelerate healing and improve ecosystem management.For example, to support sediment riverbed growth, APR has built beaver dam analogs to encourage beavers to return. Itati, one of their researchers, is studying how prairie dogs interact underground, mapping their towns, and finding ways to better combat the plague that affects them. Grassland birds are also a significant focus due to their steady decline. Ph.D. student Andrew Dreelin is researching nesting birds, such as horned larks in prairie dog towns, while Nancy Raginski is studying the migration patterns of pipits.

The bird research was particularly fascinating to me, as I had never been exposed to it before. Observing the banding process and learning about the Motus towers used for tracking birds was enlightening. The data collection methods, including recording nest locations, measuring tarsus and wing lengths, marking birds and nests, and weighing birds, provided a detailed understanding of the research process.This hands-on experience and interaction with researchers highlighted the importance of detailed data in conservation efforts and demonstrated how large-scale initiatives like APR's can make significant strides in restoring and preserving prairie ecosystems.

Volunteering with the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers to remove an old barbed wire fence was rewarding. The fence removed was to help Elk migration and other wildlife travel smoothly throughout the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge effortlessly. During the removal process, I realized how sturdy it was and how much time and effort it took to put in miles of fencing. It was amazing that with all the teamwork, we could take down a vast fence in a short amount of time. Doing this kind of volunteer work was a great reward because I knew what I had accomplished would immediately impact wildlife and have an everlasting environmental effect. 

Overall, this section of the course exposed me to diverse viewpoints on preserving the prairie for both wildlife and cattle. I recognize the conflicts between the APR and Montana's ranching community and understand the complexity of resolving these issues. Both sides aim to preserve the prairie while maintaining their livelihoods. The key to success lies in building trust and effective communication between these groups to preserve Montana's grasslands.