Animals and Ethics

     Anyone that knows about natural resources knows how important animal ethics is. NDOW states on their website that their goal is to preserve and protect wildlife and their habitats. The BLM plays a similar role, to conserve wildlife. With animals and habitats being the main portion of any natural resources field, it is important to follow a set of ethical principles to protect the innocent.
     Animals deserve the same rights as humans. This has been a common belief for years. Animals have emotions and thoughts just like humans. This means that they deserve the same respect. There are groups, such as PETA, that advocate for the cause. But then, there are some people think that animals are just that, animals and do not need to be treated as humans. They do not need the same rights as humans, but should still be treated in a humane manner. So where is the difference between humane treatment and treating animals as humans? That is the line that determines a code of conduct for those in the natural resource field.
     When dealing with animals on a ranch, it is important to keep them in good heal. Healthy animals are more productive and turn a better profit. Tracking sheep for NDOW it is important that the animals are looked after so they are not tagging ones which will die shortly after. This makes it appear that looking out for animal's health is only for the producer's best interest. But that is not the case. The reason that NDOW tracks sheep, bears, etc. is to help prevent species from becoming endangered as well as protecting them from certain human actions. When conducting the ritual of capturing and tagging it is important to care for the animals as living beings. I do not necessarily believe that they should be treated as humans. But is important to be humane. Ranchers should not use blunt force when moving animals and use shockers only when necessary. If the animal is being branded or dehorned the scabs should be treated and it should be conducted in the least painful manner. If animals were given the same rights as humans, there would be no ranches or zoos. It would also be hard to prevent predators from outnumbering other species.
     Animals deserve to be treated as humanly as possible. Those in the natural resource field understand this. This is one of the reasons that technology is advancing in the area. Technology is improved to help animals receive the least amount of pain possible. There are brands now that just  freeze the cow's hair without the animal feeling anything. Stun guns make it possible to put an animal to sleep while they are being treated. Taking care of animal health and well being is all part of the job. The goal is to protect wildlife and habitats. Having a set of ethics to be guided by is only a means of helping with this cause.

Work Cited:

"Nevada Department of Wildlife." Nevada Department of Wildlife. 2015. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

Natural Resources in the News

     Every year Elko County holds an auction for land. There are over eight states holding these types of auctions in April. When it comes to property many people do not take care of the land. There is also the case that the county is trying to subdivide portions that had previously been owned by the government.

     Land that has once been owned by the government has nothing on it. In Nevada the BLM allows for ranchers to have grazing rights for the land and lets NDOW create study and preservation portions. As the government tries to sell the property off the county will put it up for auction and try to subdivide. Majority of the time this will not effect the areas that NDOW use for study. But it reduces the acreage that ranchers can graze livestock on. This must be taken into consideration when the livestock is let out onto the BLM. There are some times that the land was once private and when someone bought it, the person began to subdivide it to try and receive more money.

     Those in the natural resources field are very land conscientious. Seeing others destroy and leave property to overgrow and become useless is irritating. Looking at the lots up for auction, there are several overrun with weeds and cheatgrass, with some being at least 10 acres. This is not always the case, and there are some wonderful properties that are auctioned. But land that is unkept can be utilized more efficiently by someone who cares about it. Natural resource people are the ones that care about keeping land in healthy conditions. Land taken over by these invasive species is hazardous to the environment and is useless to animals.
     The fact comes down to this: there are becoming more people in the world and the land that was once used for agriculture and environmentalists is turning into subdivisions. It is not a pleasant thought. Wild animals are losing their land and will eventually become endangered. Some of these auctioned properties already have houses established on them, which is less of a concern for natural resource workers. But it is the large acres that have been reduced into subdivisions that pose a threat on the industry. It is good to auction off property for the better of the environment, but not all portions will improve the quality of life for animals.

     Everywhere people go they use maps. With the increase in technology most of these maps are utilized from smartphones, but when hiking in the mountains or on many ranches, there is no service for phones and tablets. Instead GPS devices are used. Garmin is one of the most common and most  recommended providers of global positioning systems. Just recently they came out with their latest device the Montana 610 and 680. But are these devices worth the $500-$600 dollar upgrade?
     When released in 2015 the Garmin Montana 610 and 680 devices appeared to be the next greatest thing. The company highlighted the capability of rechargeable batteries, a 3D axis tilt, wireless capability, and much more. It all seems like a great deal. The device is light making it easy to travel with and the screen has a sunlight to readable display making it easy to read whether in the sun or in the shade. This is an important factor while hiking through desert with no trees or brush to cover the light. And it is possible to buy cards containing maps already programmed to make travel a fun experience (for 22 straight hours with this battery life).

     So what makes this GPS so special compared to the previous model, the Montana 600, which is far cheaper? Well for one, the screen is now 4in and the touch screen was updated. But the largest differences are the camera and the GLONASS feature. The lesser models contain a 5MP digital camera while these updated models are 8MP. And the GLONASS support makes the satellite reception stronger for canyons and heavily covered areas.
     All of the upgrades add the to price of the GPS device. And for even more money, the consumer can have a camo cover instead of the traditional black. Going back to the original question: are these new 2015 devices worth the upgrade and extra money, the answer would have to be.....no. The Montana 600 will still do anything that the buyer wants. There is still a micro SD slot for a greater storage capacity, a colored touchscreen display, and has TOPO U.S. programmed into it. If a person has the money for the upgrade then go for it. But for those that already have a Garmin Montana GPS device, it is safe to say that the upgrades will not have a huge effect on you, enough to drive to the store and purchase one right away. And on the plus side, with the Montana 610 and 680 release the price of the Montana 600 is sure to drop.

    Intro to the World of Natural Resources

     Setting your own hours, working out in the sunshine, and helping to support the world; three items that can all be connected with one field of work, ranching. Being a student studying natural resources has given me the opportunity to learn about the wonderful outdoors, and how to manage my own business as a rancher.
     Ranching is one of the most unappreciated careers for how much of an effect it has on the world. Although the hours are not set, most ranchers will wake up just as the sun is rising and won't quit until the sun sets. An average day will consist of feeding animals, analyzing and managing range lands, and keeping records and finances. It is a multiple skilled trade with natural resources being only a small portion of the work. No matter how much work there is to be done one thing is certain: at the end of the day a rancher plays a significant role in all human life. It is rewarding to know that the food you raise will help to sustain life, and being an advocate will help to raise awareness for those that do not know about life outside a city.
     I will not claim to know everything about this career. But I have gained years of experience from my family ranch. I have also attend college, and plan on receiving my degree in the field. It is from experience and study that I have acquired a significant amount of knowledge to be shared.
     So other than ranching, why choose a career in natural resources? There are many reasons. If you like to play in soil and wonder why plants wither then it would be a great study area. If you want to track endangered animals or work at a national park, same thing. There are many jobs working for the BLM, NDOW, USDA, and the mines. Any company that requires land or interrupts animal habitats deals with natural resources. The options are unlimited. And the best part is the greatest skill required to get into the field, other than a college degree in many cases, is a passion for the outdoors. It takes an outdoor view to be in the field of natural resources.