{"id":19181,"date":"2015-01-28T06:54:10","date_gmt":"2015-01-28T13:54:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=19181"},"modified":"2026-03-04T10:52:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T16:52:53","slug":"ranching-trophic-cascades-and-predator-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/01\/28\/ranching-trophic-cascades-and-predator-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranching, Trophic Cascades And Predator Control"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AnAn American Bison grazing through the snow<\/span><\/p>\n

Yesterday the Salt Lake Tribune published an article titled “Jackrabbits are a bigger problem for cattle than bison in Utah\u2019s Henry Mountains, USU study says<\/span><\/a>” those results may have come as a surprise for some people but they didn’t surprise me. It is great though to see the results and to see the figures from the\u00a0bison ecology and bison-cattle interactions that researcher Dustin Ranglack<\/span><\/a> spent two years conducting in the Henry Mountains of Utah.<\/p>\n

Eighteen genetically pure American Bison were released in the Henry Mountains in 1941 and the herd has grown to about 325 head during that time which isn’t all that large when I think of the 500+ bison that call Antelope Island State Park, a very small area compared to the Henry Mountains. The bison on Antelope Island don’t compete with cattle for food but in the Henry Mountains they do and that has caused a stir because ranchers see the bison as a big problem.<\/p>\n

\"RestingResting Black-tailed Jackrabbit<\/span><\/p>\n

The study in the Henry Mountains determined cattle consumed 52.3 percent of the grass biomass removed by herbivores in the study area. Lagomorphs \u2014 hares, rabbits and pikas \u2014 took out another 34.1 percent.<\/p>\n

Bison accounted for 13.7 percent of the grass consumption.<\/p>\n

So it seems that bison aren’t the problem for ranchers and their cattle, lagomorphs are.<\/p>\n

\"AA Coyote after finishing off a vole<\/span><\/p>\n

Coyotes in the state of Utah have a $50.00 bounty on their heads which is a foolish, non-scientific program that is supposed to save the mule deer population (I wish you could see me roll my eyes) by exterminating the coyotes in the state.<\/p>\n

Sure, coyotes might take weak or very young mule deer but their primary prey is smaller mammals like rabbits and voles. Voles and rabbit populations are cyclic and populations explode and collapse but coyotes have historically kept those population in natural balance. Not now though because coyotes have that bounty on their heads. So is it any surprise that rabbit, hare and vole populations explode and that in the Henry Mountains their numbers are so large that they consume 34% of the grass biomass? I wonder what studies in other areas where cattle range would show?<\/p>\n

\"MeadowMeadow Vole at Cliff Lake, Montana<\/span><\/p>\n

I have written about voles, coyotes, other natural predators and nature’s balance<\/span><\/a> before so reading that there is a rabbit problem isn’t news to me because in the state of Utah “predator control” isn’t based on science at all. It is more about killing for killing’s sake and to hell with the consequences.<\/p>\n

So the problem with ranching in the Henry Mountains isn’t the bison but rabbits and hares whose populations could be reduced substantially…<\/p>\n

\"CoyoteA Coyote hunting near the Great Salt Lake<\/span><\/p>\n

By not killing the Coyotes. By using science to create a natural balance and the resulting trophic cascades <\/span><\/a>that would increase biodiversity. By using our heads instead of relying on methods that have NOT worked in over 100 years.<\/p>\n

This isn’t just just a Henry Mountain Range issue, it is a Utah issue. It is an issue where ever there are Coyotes, cattle, rabbits, hares and voles.<\/p>\n

I need to thank Dustin Ranglack<\/span><\/a> for bringing this information to light.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my American Bison photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

See how Wolves Change Rivers in this video<\/a><\/span>. Granted the producer called elk deer and they show a European Badger instead of an American Badger but this video is powerful.<\/p>\n

Read more on the study here: Bison vs. rabbits: the need for science-based management decisions in livestock\u2013wildlife conflicts\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This isn’t just just a Henry Mountain Range issue, it is a Utah issue. It is an issue where ever there are Coyotes, cattle, rabbits, hares and voles. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":170017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[443,511,516,1514,2152,100,1022,1512,12,26,3128],"tags":[4463,2452,4350,733,4002,11978,2451,12858,4050,4328,3129,1647],"class_list":["post-19181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bison","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-black-tailed-jackrabbit","category-cliff-lake-montana","category-conservation","category-coyotes","category-davis-county-utah","category-madison-county-montana","category-montana","category-utah","category-voles","tag-american-bison","tag-black-tailed-jackrabbit","tag-buffalo","tag-canis-latrans","tag-coyote","tag-desert-island","tag-lepus-californicus","tag-ranching","tag-snow","tag-snowy","tag-trophic-cascade","tag-voles"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-ice-mia-mcpherson-1460.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-4Zn","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4136,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/01\/24\/wild-and-wonderful-antelope-island-state-park-the-wildlife\/","url_meta":{"origin":19181,"position":0},"title":"Wild and Wonderful – Antelope Island State Park – The Wildlife","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"This is part 2 of my three part series on Wild and Wonderful Antelope Island State Park and it covers some of the wildlife that can be found howling, grazing, buzzing and posing for my camera.","rel":"","context":"In "American Bison"","block_context":{"text":"American Bison","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/bison\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Pronghorn chasing off another buck, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pronghorn-buck-rut-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-0604.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pronghorn-buck-rut-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-0604.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pronghorn-buck-rut-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-0604.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pronghorn-buck-rut-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-0604.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1949,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/02\/22\/snow-on-antelope-island-state-park\/","url_meta":{"origin":19181,"position":1},"title":"Snow, Bison Plus Chukars on Antelope Island State Park","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 22, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"When I first visited Antelope Island State Park I fell in love with its wild beauty, the windswept grasslands, pungent sagebrush, awesome views of the Great Salt Lake and the wildlife that abounds there.","rel":"","context":"In "American Bison"","block_context":{"text":"American Bison","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/bison\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Low hanging clouds over Frary Peak on Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/antelope-island-sp-snow-mia-mcpherson-5149.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/antelope-island-sp-snow-mia-mcpherson-5149.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/antelope-island-sp-snow-mia-mcpherson-5149.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/antelope-island-sp-snow-mia-mcpherson-5149.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49375,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/11\/10\/birds-and-beasts-in-a-november-2012-snow-storm-on-antelope-island\/","url_meta":{"origin":19181,"position":2},"title":"Birds and Beasts in a November 2012 Snow Storm on Antelope Island","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The birds and beasts on Antelope can survive the harsh winters here but as each years passes I wonder how they will be able to adapt to our changing climate. I can't help but be concerned.","rel":"","context":"In "American Bison"","block_context":{"text":"American Bison","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/bison\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red-tailed Hawk in a November blizzard, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/red-tailed-hawk-blizzard-mia-mcpherson-7522.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/red-tailed-hawk-blizzard-mia-mcpherson-7522.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/red-tailed-hawk-blizzard-mia-mcpherson-7522.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/red-tailed-hawk-blizzard-mia-mcpherson-7522.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18276,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/12\/30\/bison-starlings-magpies-coyotes-and-a-mule-deer-carcass\/","url_meta":{"origin":19181,"position":3},"title":"Bison, Starlings, Magpies, Coyotes and a Mule Deer carcass","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday was another interesting day on Antelope Island seeing snow-covered Bison, snowy weather, birds and spotting Coyotes at a Mule Deer carcass.","rel":"","context":"In "American Bison"","block_context":{"text":"American Bison","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/bison\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Magpies and a Coyote near a deer carcass, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyotes-magpies-carcass-mia-mcpherson-9688.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyotes-magpies-carcass-mia-mcpherson-9688.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyotes-magpies-carcass-mia-mcpherson-9688.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyotes-magpies-carcass-mia-mcpherson-9688.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4621,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/03\/13\/feathers-fur\/","url_meta":{"origin":19181,"position":4},"title":"Feathers & Fur","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I thought I would post a few images taken this past week from Antelope Island State Park and the west desert in Tooele County. Feathers & Fur.","rel":"","context":"In "American Bison"","block_context":{"text":"American Bison","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/bison\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Horned Lark male on a breezy day in the West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/horned-lark-male-mia-mcpherson-7720.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/horned-lark-male-mia-mcpherson-7720.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/horned-lark-male-mia-mcpherson-7720.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/horned-lark-male-mia-mcpherson-7720.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":79055,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/02\/09\/golden-eagle-flying-over-a-hill-on-antelope-island\/","url_meta":{"origin":19181,"position":5},"title":"Golden Eagle Flying Over A Hill On Antelope Island","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 9, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"It has been a couple of years since I have found a Golden Eagle on Antelope Island so when I spotted an adult on a grassy hill yesterday I was excited.","rel":"","context":"In "American Bison"","block_context":{"text":"American Bison","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/bison\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Golden Eagle flying over a hill on Antelope Island, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-flight-hill-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-2040.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-flight-hill-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-2040.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-flight-hill-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-2040.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-flight-hill-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-2040.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19181"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19181\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/170017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}