Healing the Devastation Caused by Catastrophic Wildfire by Working In Partnership With Animals

1. REALREAL
ENVIRONMENTALISTSENVIRONMENTALISTS
In Partnership WithIn Partnership With
AnimalsAnimals
HEALING BIGHEALING BIG
BURNS!BURNS!

2. As another round ofAs another round of
wildfires ravages the West,wildfires ravages the West,
the question arises, as it does every year...the question arises, as it does every year...the question arises, as it does every year...the question arises, as it does every year...

3. WhatWhat’’s the best way to get plantss the best way to get plants
growing quickly on land now sogrowing quickly on land now so
susceptible to flash flooding andsusceptible to flash flooding and
catastrophic erosion?catastrophic erosion?

4. In the 1980s a couple of innovativeIn the 1980s a couple of innovative
ranchers discovered that the mostranchers discovered that the most
effective way to heal very damaged landeffective way to heal very damaged land
is by enlisting the help of animals.is by enlisting the help of animals.

5. This is a pile of copper mine tailings nearThis is a pile of copper mine tailings near
Globe, Arizona — a pile of sterile rockGlobe, Arizona — a pile of sterile rock
dust 300 feet high and 1,100 acres huge.dust 300 feet high and 1,100 acres huge.

6. In 1989 an Arizona rancher spread seeds andIn 1989 an Arizona rancher spread seeds and
hay on that pile and enlisted the help ofhay on that pile and enlisted the help of
cows to till-in and fertilize the mix.cows to till-in and fertilize the mix.

7. Note: This is not a grazing program. In most cases thereNote: This is not a grazing program. In most cases there’’ss
nothing to graze. This is a land restoration processnothing to graze. This is a land restoration process
employing animals as the primary restorers.employing animals as the primary restorers.
In 1989 an Arizona rancher spread seeds andIn 1989 an Arizona rancher spread seeds and
hay on that pile and enlisted the help ofhay on that pile and enlisted the help of
cows to till-in and fertilize the mix.cows to till-in and fertilize the mix.

8. This is the result.This is the result. Before
AfterAfter - Grass all the way to the top.- Grass all the way to the top.

9. on a gold mine in Nevada.on a gold mine in Nevada.
HereHere’’s another example ofs another example of
working with animals to healworking with animals to heal
very damaged land...very damaged land...

10. Two Nevada ranchers tackled thatTwo Nevada ranchers tackled that
challenge with seeds, hay, and cows.challenge with seeds, hay, and cows.

11. Gold mine near Austin, Nevada, October 1989Gold mine near Austin, Nevada, October 1989
•Restoration is in progress.Restoration is in progress.
•Seeds have been spread.Seeds have been spread.
•Cows are eating, trampling and fertilizing.Cows are eating, trampling and fertilizing.
Same mine 8 months after restoration.Same mine 8 months after restoration.
1 year1 year
afterafter
restorationrestoration

12. This land was burned by a large wildfireThis land was burned by a large wildfire
near Grand Junction, Colorado, 4 yearsnear Grand Junction, Colorado, 4 years
before this photo was taken.before this photo was taken.
So, what does this have to do with fire?So, what does this have to do with fire?

13. It was a big fire.It was a big fire.

14. In this case, a flock of sheep providedIn this case, a flock of sheep provided
thethe “restoration workers.”“restoration workers.”

15. The results one year later.The results one year later.
BeforeBeforeAfterAfter

16. These photos were taken in May 2011.These photos were taken in May 2011.
The Schultz Pass Fire near Flagstaff,The Schultz Pass Fire near Flagstaff,
Arizona, burned in June 2010.Arizona, burned in June 2010.

17. The fire burned so hot it caused rocks toThe fire burned so hot it caused rocks to
split. The intense heat sterilized the soilsplit. The intense heat sterilized the soil
and capped it with a rain-repelling crust.and capped it with a rain-repelling crust.

18. When a storm dumped 2 inches of rain onWhen a storm dumped 2 inches of rain on
those crusted slopes it caused a hugethose crusted slopes it caused a huge
flashflood, one fatality, and much damageflashflood, one fatality, and much damage
to nearby homes and property.to nearby homes and property.

19. To keep that from happening again,To keep that from happening again,
an effort to revegetate the landan effort to revegetate the land
included dropping bales of strawincluded dropping bales of straw
from helicopters.from helicopters.

20. Not tilled into the soil, the strawNot tilled into the soil, the straw
remained on the surface to washremained on the surface to wash
or blow away.or blow away.

21. 2121
The same tactic (spreading strawThe same tactic (spreading straw
without tilling) was tried after a largewithout tilling) was tried after a large
wildfire threatened Arizonawildfire threatened Arizona’’ss
spectacular Oak Creek Canyon withspectacular Oak Creek Canyon with
catastrophic flooding.catastrophic flooding.

22. 2222

23. How well do animals
counter erosion by
tilling in added
organic material?
The Globe mine
restoration cattle
trampled organic
matter 12 inches
and more into the
loose tailings
creating a foot of
living soil.

24. How well
does that
resist
erosion?

25. This is that same GlobeThis is that same Globe
mine slope stillmine slope still
resisting erosion (andresisting erosion (and
getting a little touchup)getting a little touchup)
17 years after17 years after
restoration.restoration.
BeforeBefore

26. BeforeBefore

27. The question is, if animal-aidedThe question is, if animal-aided
revegetation can turn challengesrevegetation can turn challenges
like this...like this...

28. into successes like this...into successes like this...

29. and this...and this...

30. Why arenWhy aren’’t we using animal-assistedt we using animal-assisted
methods to turn land devastated bymethods to turn land devastated by
wildfire...wildfire...

31. into green growing land like this?into green growing land like this?