Evolution Beyond the Fauna
Post by student Luther Bells
As a young southerner, I viewed the prairie as a toybox of wilderness and the art of evolution, which was shaped by the many documentaries poured into my adolescent mind. However, I soon quickly realized that this ecosystem is developed around a complex web of social, scientific, and cultural implications that revolve around two central points: the sustainability of the modern cowboy and the continuation of the American Prairie. All, in turn, are useful in helping me piece together the puzzle of the American Prairie. Ultimately, Montana is hard to demonstrate to me the nexus point and modern challenges of our growing democratic human population and the impacts of our consciousness.
Sustainability in Montana means more than preserving grasslands. It means upholding ranching families, rural communities, and a way of life that has shaped the prairie for generations, which also translates to the conditions of relations between people and the land. Cowboy hats, horses, cattle and boots all remain constant from The Open Range Era of the mid to late 1800s. Some ranchers move their herds monthly, others daily. However, the difference now lies in the implications of technology. Similar to cattle at The Nemours Wildlife Foundation in Yemassee, SC, a few pioneering ranchers have begun using electric collars to implement virtual fencing. So instead of spending hours riding fences or riding horseback in the scorching heat or chilling cold to move a herd of hundreds of cattle, some farmers use the push of a button to ensure cattle are moved or riding on ATVs, continuing the sustainable use of grasslands.
Even though the nearest neighbor may be miles away here, big tech continues to be in ranchers' back pockets and wallets with this cutting-edge technology. Using this collar technology comes with recurring costs for replacement batteries, signal tower installation, and the collar itself. And in a state where gas exceeds $4.00 a gallon, and groceries are on the rise, an additional cost isn't appealing or even feasible for most farmers. After talking with a rancher closely associated with the Rancher Stewardship Alliance, the modern-day cowboy hasn't changed since the Spanish influence after the Mexican-American War. The reality is that, yes, even with cutting-edge technology, most basics are difficult because of the safeguards of ranching and the support for these ranchers' livelihoods. Even though one of the ranchers implemented and uses the virtual fencing technology on 100% of his cattle, fences remain. They remain as an insurance against the potential failure of technology and/or the inability to afford the technology. He defined modern cowboys as people who do the best with what they have. Culture and circumstances drive these changes in the adoption of new science, technology, and perspectives. As scientists, we can't expect citizens to abruptly change their actions for the betterment of the environment when their past consistency is what feeds their families. Facts are black and white; however, the implication of such research isn't as easy to integrate. And such comes with the continuation of the American Prairie.
Undoubtedly, ensuring the presence of the American Prairie depends on maintaining the grassland community through constant disturbance and grazing. However, the controversy comes when we discuss who should do the grazing: cattle or Bison? But the true layer, from what I have discerned, isn't even the who but the how, and, more importantly, how those who want to lead are perceived by the community. I am quickly learning that science is more social than the science itself. Trust, history, and intentionality significantly affect conservation methods on the prairie. After hearing from various NGOs, it's clear that ranchers, farmers, statesmen, and community members all want to maintain and improve the grasslands, whether for livelihood, culture, or, most commonly, the sheer beauty of the healthy biome. Oftentimes, when trying to solve a major problem, many possible solutions arise from shared passion and the desire to address the issue. And this is an element that I think is easily forgotten, which can and in some cases has bred division and negativity. However, from what I have seen, the differences of opinions and approaches demonstrate the functionality of our democratic republic and our American spirit of introspective competition, which breeds groundbreaking results. One question this imaginary divide raises is: are these different methods compatible with each other in achieving the final goal of maintaining this magnificent ecosystem? If it does, then it's a fair game, because a sense of satisfaction amongst all parties is the success story of conservation In short, the endearment of the Cowboy and the inclusion of new findings and technologies landed us where we are today. We are in a period of positive change, despite how you may think of the methods included. The important thing to note on this trajectory is that the common folk and those within are willing to act before it's too late, ensuring that the Great Plains are utilized today sustainably, ensuring its continuation for tomorrow.
