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. WhatWhats 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 theress 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. HereHeres 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 Arizonass 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 arent 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?