We Didn't Start the Fire - FROM THE CEO - East Foundation
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FEBRUARY 2021
We promote the advancement
of land stewardship through
ranching, science, and education.
© Wyman Meinzer
FROM THE CEO
We Didn’t Start the Fire
NEA L W I L K I N S
During his 1528-1536 journey had developed under the combined Returning fire to the landscape
through South Texas, Cabeza de impacts of fire, drought, and grazing might be beneficial, but the changes
Vaca noted that the natives he was animals – both wild and domestic. that have occurred can also make it
among would Researchers at the US Forest Service difficult. Invasive brush species are
“... go about with a firebrand, have back-dated fire evidence to often promoted by a combination
setting fire to the plains and reveal historic fire frequencies prior of long-term fire suppression
timber so as to drive off the to 1850. Their results suggest that and grazing practices in the face
mosquitos, and also to get most of the South Texas Plains had of recurring droughts. Native
lizards and similar things a fire return interval of two to four rangelands can be restored with a
which they eat, to come out of years, right up until the time this combination of brush control (either
the soil. In the same manner area joined the Republic of Texas. mechanically or through herbicides)
they kill deer, encircling them So, in the years since Cabeza de and prescribed fire – and then
with fires, and they do it also Vaca’s journey the South Texas followed by good grazing practices.
to deprive animals of pasture, Plains could have burned at least Fire, however, is not a magic bullet
compelling them to go for food 100 times. In the 150+ years since for immediately returning degraded
where the Indians want.” joining Texas, the fire frequency in and brush-invaded rangelands to
this region was reduced drastically. their former condition. But fire is a
Cabeza de Vaca’s journal entry is tool that, when well-understood,
probably the first written account can be used to enhance
of the intentional use of fire as a rangelands.
management tool in North America.
The Ignaces Indians of the 1530s This issue of our newsletter is
were not exclusive in their use of centered on fire. We seek to
fire. In fact, fire was such a key understand fire, in all its uses,
factor in the South Texas Plains so that we can make better
that the grasslands observed by decisions even though making
Cabeza de Vaca, and explorers that better decisions, as Annie Duke
followed, could be called a fire-prone notes in her quote below, does
landscape. not always guarantee better
outcomes.
The Tejano settlers of the 19th
century were attracted to the area “What good poker players
because of the lush grasslands that and good decision-makers
A view of a prescribed burn from above. Controlled burn
research takes place on our El Sauz ranch where we study have in common is their
cattle movements and grazing in relation to burns.
comfort with the world out how unsure they are,
being an uncertain and making their best guess at
unpredictable place. They the chances that different
understand that they can outcomes will occur.”
almost never know exactly - Annie Duke, Thinking in Bets:
how something will turn out. Making Smarter Decisions
BOARD OF DIRECTORS They embrace the uncertainty When You Don’t Have All the
and, instead of focusing on Facts
Dick Evans being sure, they try to figure
Dan Kinsel
Tio Kleberg
Bryan Wagner, Chair
FROM THE ARCHIVE
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS
Does Fire Foster Innovation?
Lynn Drawe, PhD. NEA L W I LKINS
David Hewitt, PhD.
Clay Hilton, DVM. Fire has several uses on South labor, and the method was not very
Tio Kleberg, Chair Texas ranches. Not only do ranchers efficient. With a more efficient way
Roel Lopez, PhD. use prescribed burns to manage to singe the spines of prickly pear,
Rick Machen, PhD. rangelands, but historically they more cattle may have survived (or at
Clay Mathis, PhD. have used fire as a tool to transform least the labor would have been less
Fred Bryant, PhD. (Emeritus) prickly pear cactus into forage for intensive).
Lisa Flowers, PhD. (Emeritus) cattle. This excerpt from our archive Droughts do seem to be catalysts
explains the process. for innovation. The drought of the
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE The drought of the early 1890s 1890s was followed by the invention
devastated much of the Southwest. of the gasoline-fueled pear burner.
Dick Evans In South Texas, this drought reached In 1900, Mr. Lewis Snowden, of
Harry Flavin its peak during 1894. C.W. Hellen, Tilden, Texas (McMullen County),
Phil Plant a well-respected leader in the filed one of the first patents for an
South Texas community, had lived improved “cactus burner,” which is
through the current drought and now widely known as a pear-burner.
LOCATIONS many others before. In his address By 1906, David Griffiths, an
to Rotary Club members in 1935, he agricultural scientist with the US
Hebbronville
spoke about the awful conditions Department of Agriculture, had done
310 East Galbraith Street
that he and his sister found when work in Texas that showed that one
Hebbronville, Texas 78361
they first arrived to their El Sordo man with 10 gallons of gasoline
San Antonio Viejo Ranch Ranch in 1894. The drought had could singe enough prickly pear to
474 East Ranch Road devastated the cattle herd. Adding feed 100 beef cows in a day. Today,
Hebbronville, Texas 78361 insult to injury was the fact that the more than 100 years later, pear-
cattle market was at its lowest point burners are still in common use. The
El Sauz Ranch since the Civil War. designs have changed, and propane
37216 Highway 186
C.W. Hellen and other South Texas is now used more than gasoline, but
Port Mansfield, Texas 78598
ranchers would cut prickly pear the concept is the same.
San Antonio stalks and then carry them with a For the South Texas cattlemen at the
200 Concord Plaza Drive, Suite 410 forked stick to be passed through turn of the century, another well-
San Antonio, Texas 78216 a brush fire to singe off the spines. known innovation – the artesian
(210) 447-0126
It was only through feeding this water well – was developed in
prickly pear to their weakened response to the same drought of the
cattle that enough animals made it early 1890s. In 1899, Robert Kleberg,
EASTFOUNDATION.NET through the drought to restock the working with Henrietta King,
rangelands until finally the drought successfully developed the first
broke. This was back-breaking artesian well in the area. Many such
2 FEBRUARY 2021
wells followed, and this innovation of white-tailed deer, nilgai
greatly improved the odds of a antelope, and cattle. We need to
rancher surviving through drought. better understand the influence
As South Texas recovers from of fire on rangeland recovery,
our latest drought, we persevere and how this is influenced
and create new ways to conserve by grazing. We need to better
native rangelands and maintain understand how to use all our
productivity through the next management tools to control
drought. We don’t necessarily need non-native and invasive
a better pear-burner at this point. grasses that threaten rangeland
What we do need is to gain a more productivity and biological
diversity. © Wyman Meinzer
accurate understanding of the
interactions among grazing and Although the innovations
browsing animals. For example, we needed now are different than
need to determine how to better those of a century ago, they
predict, and then manage, the may be just as important as
impacts from different densities a pear-burner for making it
through the next drought.
Early version of an improved cactus burner. The South
Texas drought of the 1890s was followed by dozens of early
innovations for portable cactus burners.
Image Courtesy of U.S. Patent Office.
SCIENCE AT WORK
Patch-burn Grazing on El Sauz
TY LER CAM P B E L L
Together with cattle grazing, rangeland management and wildlife and cattle. In other regions,
prescribed burning is the primary restoration. cattle and wildlife heavily use
tool for managing the rangelands recently burned patches because of
An example of a project that “checks
and wildlife resources of the greater forage quality and quantity;
all the boxes” is our patch-burn
East Foundation. Rangelands in however, these relationships have
grazing project on the El Sauz
South Texas thrive when burned not been fully explored in the South
Ranch. Here, we use prescribed
periodically. In the absence of fire, Texas Sand Sheet.
burns in areas (or patches)
over time rangelands naturally shift
of grassland habitats during
from grasslands to shrublands,
different seasons and allow
which reduces overall productivity.
cattle, white-tailed deer, and
Also, many wildlife species in South
nilgai to roam and forage
Texas depend on periodic fire to
freely. This creates a mosaic
maintain their preferred habitat
(or patchwork) of vegetation in
structure.
different stages of development
We use prescribed burns to – from recently burned patches,
fulfill numerous objectives, to patches that have not been
including cattle forage production, burned for several years, to
wildfire fuel reduction, wildlife patches that have never been
management, research, and burned – after all, habitat © Wyman Meinzer
diversity is good for both New forage growth after a patch burn on El Sauz.
E A S T F O U N D AT I O N . N E T 3
Some specifics – in February 2. Use of selected grasses following For this project, we work closely
2016, we devoted 11,000 acres of patch burns with personnel and students
grassland habitat to this long-term, 3. Nutritional value of forage from the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife
operational-scale project. We use following patch burns Research Institute at Texas A&M
15 patches (average patch size of University-Kingsville and the
730 acres) and conduct prescribed 4. Plant responses to patch burns Natural Resources Institute at Texas
burns in different seasons (winter (fire intensity, forage production, A&M University, including three
and summer) and at different carbohydrate reserves, and Master of Science students and one
frequencies (short and long). We habitat structure) Doctor of Philosophy student. Our
set all fires from a four-wheel ATV, 5. Vegetative community goal – to equip the next generation
or while on foot. Our overall long- composition following patch of science-minded managers and
term goal is to develop patch-burn burns management-minded scientists
grazing recommendations for the with sound land stewardship
6. Pollinator and other insect
South Texas Sand Sheet, specifically principles.
responses to patch burns
related to the optimal season to Our patch-burn grazing project on
burn and burn frequency. 7. Small mammal and bird
our El Sauz Ranch is yet another
occupancy, abundance, and
The research objectives of the example of how the East Foundation
density relationships with patch
project are to quantify and compare: does what’s right for the land and
burns
1. Cattle use related to recently the life that depends on it.
burned patches
EDUCATION INSIGHTS
Lighting a Fire for Learning
T I NA BU F O RD
Recently, I had the opportunity and you pique their curiosity, but Teaching kids about prescribed fire
to assist in a prescribed burn on they don’t truly understand fire’s highlights the many benefits of
East Foundation’s El Sauz ranch. impacts or teach them too late, and fire and gives them the knowledge
It was mesmerizing! Watching the you risk their ignorance adding to they need to respect its potential
flames was hypnotic. I found myself the increasing rate of wildfires. for destruction. At age 46, out
inching closer and closer and if it Setting timing aside, here at the in the field assisting with the
was not for the intense heat, I might East Foundation we strongly burn, I once again was a student
have reached out to touch it. The support educating students about myself. Witnessing the landscape
flames were bright orange with a the role fire plays in caring for our transformed by fire was a sight to
hint of red, the smoke ranged from ecosystems. Fire is a necessary tool see, and which had me wanting to
white to grey to black and, every not to be feared, but rather to be learn more. I look forward to hosting
once in a while, I saw yellow and understood and respected. One students on the land once again!
green smoke. The sounds were of the many advantages of
equally as spectacular. I expected hosting kids on the land during
crackling but was surprised to hear field lessons are the sights and
a zinging noise, almost like when sounds that help with their
fireworks take off. learning. A freshly burned plot
With an element so intriguing, it with brand new, green shoots
is understandable that the jury rising from the blackened
is still out on when to introduce ground is the perfect visual to
students to fire. Kids often link fire tell the story of nutrient cycling
to fun. Like roasting smores over a – out with the old and in with
campfire or lighting fireworks on the new.
the 4th of July. Teach them too early
A prescribed burn on El Sauz personifies “out with the old
and in with the new.”
4 FEBRUARY 2021
FROM THE RANCH
Fuel for a Fire Upcoming Events
ZA NE H E RRI N
MARCH 5
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research
Grazing management is both In South Texas, woody species are
Institute Annual Deer Research
an art and a science. It takes an constantly encroaching on open
Meeting
understanding of forage demand areas. Over time, mesquite and
(the amount of grass needed to huisache can reduce grazeable area,
meet the requirements of all grazing which reduces forage availability
animals) and forage availability (the and ultimately the number MARCH 22
amount of grazeable forage the land of animals we can maintain. Professional Advisor Meeting at
produces). Amount and timing of Prescribed fire, coupled with other El Sauz and Port Mansfield
rainfall, freezes, and deviations in forms of brush management and
cattle production create the need proper grazing, can maintain
for flexibility as forage surplus and or increase grazeable acres by MARCH 23-24
deficit occurs. removing invasive woody species Board of Directors Meeting at
A successful grazing strategy is that compete with grass for water,
nutrients, and sunlight. El Sauz
well-thought and extends over a
broad timeframe. Incorporating Not all range sites and forages are
prescribed fire also requires a long- created equal, especially with the
APRIL 20
term perspective. With cow/calf, diversity that exists across all East
retained stocker, and purchased Foundation ranches. In some cases, Texan by Nature Conservation
stocker enterprises, forage demand it isn’t a matter of deferring grazing and Celebration Summit
is high on East Foundation ranches. in order to burn, but a matter of
We cannot “accidently” fall into burning in order to graze. We may
situations that allow us to conduct a decide to conduct a burn before a
successful and effective prescribed major growing season to improve
fire. forage quality. For instance, burning
The most important component gulf cordgrass at El Sauz promotes
of a successful prescribed fire is fresh growth, allowing our cows to
fuel. Once an area is identified consume an otherwise coarse and
as a burn site and the season of unpalatable forage. This improved
burning is established, we can plan grazing distribution allows other
how to utilize that specific pasture parts of the pasture to recover as the
to ensure ample residual forage cattle graze burned areas.
to complete a burn. Therefore, our Prescribed burning is an effective
grazing strategy must ensure that tool in our toolbox to improve the
we either defer grazing or lightly land for long-term sustainability of
graze the dedicated burn area at our rangeland and cattle operation.
least one growing season before the It takes communication, planning,
burn. This impacts where we put and flexibility within our grazing
each class of cattle, as well as when systems that may not provide huge
we put them there. returns in the short-term, but over
Why burn? From a purely cattle time increase the overall value of
production standpoint, would we be what we are doing as land stewards.
better off converting every blade of
grass to beef? Without considering
all other variables, maybe yes.
However, fire is a useful tool for
brush management and improving
forage quality.
E A S T F O U N D AT I O N . N E T 5
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
In his own words:
“Some things that amazed
me from the East Foundation
King Ranch® Institute for
are that most of the research Ranch Management
projects are performed at a JASON SAWY ER
large scale. Research done at
this scale is rarely performed
because of the lack of property, The King Ranch® Institute for
funding, personnel, or simply the Ranch Management aims to
uncertainty of the landowners improve sustainability and effective
not knowing what would happen management of complex ranching
to their natural resources. East systems through innovation,
Foundation trusts their research education, and outreach programs.
JOS É S ILV ERIO ÁV I LA SÁ N C H EZ partners and goes above and A partnership between East
beyond to support them in all Foundation and KRIRM created
Silverio “Silver” was born in my role as KRIRM Scientist-in-
ways possible.
Tampico, Mexico, and grew up Residence, where working across
as a nomad moving to Texas East Foundation is true with the ranching, science, and education
and back to Mexico following their words when they say that missions of East Foundation we
his parent’s education and they promote land stewardship seek strategies to improve long-term
careers. With a ranching family through ranching, science, value of ranching systems through
background and a fondness for and education. The skill of effective management.
natural resources, he graduated communicating science in a way
that speaks to landowners and In the Coloraditas grazing research
in 2016 with a B.S. in Forestry
non-scientist-minded individuals program, we are testing novel
Engineering from Universidad
is, in my opinion, the most deferred rotational grazing and
Autonóma Agraria Antonio Narro
crucial step of making a change. adaptive stocking approaches
(UAAAN) in Saltillo, Coahuila,
This is just one of the many skills compatible with extensive South
Mexico. His undergraduate
I have better developed through Texas rangelands. Successful
thesis was focused on the effects
my work with East Foundation, strategies should improve carrying
of wildfire on plant species
and it has helped me become a capacity over time and enhance
composition and structure in
better professional, student, and ecosystem services like wildlife
Coahuila, Mexico.
researcher. habitat and carbon management.
In 2017, he was offered a
My research project was limited At KRIRM, we are engaged in
graduate position in Range and
to East Foundation’s coastal assessment of greenhouse gas
Wildlife Management at Texas
property, the El Sauz Ranch. emissions as a component of
A&M University-Kingsville,
This piece of land is an oasis sustainable beef production
where he earned his Master of
in the middle of the South systems, and have tried to ‘make
Science in Range and Wildlife
Texas wild horse desert and is sense of methane’. With East
Management. His thesis research
a property where you can find Foundation, we have initiated
evaluated the effects of winter
a great diversity of wildlife and studies to understand soil
and summer prescribed burning
vegetation, including active carbon storage as we anticipate
in Gulf cordgrass vegetation
sand dunes that make this land opportunities and risks associated
communities on the East
unique and unforgettable.” with carbon management for
Foundation’s El Sauz Ranch.
ranches. Livestock production,
Silverio is now continuing as a
grazing strategies, resource
Ph.D. student working for the
improvement, and carbon
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research
transactions are not separate
Institute on East Foundation
efforts…they are threads in the cloth
lands.
of sustainable ranching systems.
The partnership between East
Foundation and KRIRM allows us to
innovatively do what’s right for the
land and the lives that depend on it.
6 FEBRUARY 2021
OPERATIONS REPORT
Fire Prevention & Preparedness
TOD D S N E LG ROV E
February 15, 2021—It is 20 degrees debris in the grill and chassis of 2. Routing trained personnel—local
outside. A biting north wind makes utility vehicles like Polaris Rangers, volunteer fire departments and
it feel twice as cold. To top it off, and taking extra precautions when the Texas Forest Service—to the
six inches of powdery white snow doing things such as welding. fire as quickly and efficiently as
blankets the ground here in San Ensuring all trucks, utility vehicles, possible.
Antonio. My thoughts turn to a fire. and other equipment are equipped 3. Determining where best to
Not the inviting fire in our fireplace with suppression gear like fire contain a fire knowing we can
but the prospect of a wildfire on one extinguishers, water cans, or even cede ground to protect lives and
of our ranches in deep South Texas. a shovel can nip a small fire in the critical infrastructure.
What could possibly have my mind bud if one were to break out.
on wildfire? The Valentine’s week artic outbreak
Even with an increased focus on in Texas will exacerbate an already
When it comes to rainfall, 2020 prevention, a wildfire occurrence tenuous situation when it comes to
was about as good as it gets. Not on our ranches is not a question of wildfire potential. Several nights of
only did we receive abundant, if, but when? Knowing this, there hard freezes likely killed much of
above average rainfall across all our are actions we can take to mitigate the early spring green up. Knowing
ranches, but it was also particularly the impact of wildfire. Maintaining this, we will remain vigilant to
well timed. After a dry winter, we a disked line of bare mineral soil the threat of wildfires. For more
received pulses of rain throughout around our perimeters reduces the information on wildfire risk,
the spring, summer, and early fall. likelihood a fire can spread onto preparedness, and response visit the
The rains, when paired with good our property from a highway or Texas A&M Forest Service.
grazing management, resulted neighbor, or even from us onto a
in fantastic range conditions and neighboring property. Doing the
significant forage accumulation. same around headquarters at San
As is often the case in South Texas, Antonio Viejo serves to mitigate the
the tables have turned, and we risk to critical infrastructure.
have received only about a quarter In the coming years, we plan to
of normal rainfall since mid- develop corridors in strategic
September. Drought has settled in locations across East Foundation
and a handful of frosty mornings ranches along existing roads and
have turned what was once lush fence lines that can be disced in
forage into well-cured fuel. With times of high wildfire risk.
La Niña conditions persisting in When responding to a wildfire we
the western Pacific, the National must acknowledge that we are
Weather Service predicts an elevated ranchers, managers, and scientists,
wildfire risk to persist or worsen not firefighters. Knowing that, our
through April. This is why my response to a wildfire focuses on:
mind turns to wildfire prevention,
mitigation, and response during a 1. Gathering as much information
winter storm. about the fire on the front end—
where is it? Size? What direction
Prevention of wildfire on the is it moving? How fast? What
ranches starts with emphasizing is at risk? All of this is critical
the risks associated with fires to in determining the appropriate
staff and partners working on our course of action and getting
lands. Emphasizing risks includes first responders and neighbors
fostering an awareness of simple engaged.
steps like not parking your truck in
tall grass, blowing out accumulated
E A S T F O U N D AT I O N . N E T 7
RAINFALL REPORT
A Song of Ice and Drought
A LLIE B I E D E N H A RN
While snow and ice
blanketed Texas this past
week, drought conditions Webb Duval Jim Wells Kleberg
in South Texas continue to
worsen. East Foundation
ranches are in areas of
moderate to extreme
drought. With La Niña
Jim Hogg
holding strong in the Pacific, Brooks
predictions are calling for Zapata
this drought to continue Kenedy
through winter and possibly
Kenedy
spring.
The San Antonio Viejo ranch
has received less than 10%
of average rainfall with most
areas receiving under one Normal rainfall for 90 day period based
Starr
on 30-year average:
half inch of rain in the past Ranchito: 3.96"
Hidalgo
Gachupin: 3.67"
90 days. SAV: 3.30" Willacy
Buena Vista: 3.47"
El Sauz has received about El Sauz: 4.22"
Santa Rosa: 4.37" 90-Day Percent of Average Rainfall
Cameron
60 to 90% of average rainfall
amount, or about three
inches across the ranch.
< 10%
10 - 30%
30 - 50%
50 - 70%
70 - 90%
90 - 100%
100 - 120%
120 -150%
150 - 200%
> 200%
¯
February 22, 2021
In the past 90 days, El
Sauz remains in moderate
Jim Wells Nueces
drought.
For more information Webb Duval
on drought and other Kleberg Kleberg
weather events or to view
information specific to your
part of the state please visit:
http://climatexas.tamu.edu/
Jim Hogg
drought/maps/index.html. Brooks
Zapata
Kenedy
Kenedy
Starr
Willacy
Drought Intensity Willacy
None Hidalgo
Abnormally Dry Cameron
Moderate Drought
Severe Drought
Extreme Drought
U.S. Drought
Cameron Monitor- S. Texas
Exceptional Drought February 16, 2021
© Wyman Meinzer
8 FEBRUARY 2021SECURITY REPORT
Fire Safety - A Team Effort
MATT R O BINSON
Since my article comes last in this That said, please do not endanger
fire-themed edition Trey Dyer said to yourself by getting in too big of a
me, “I hope everyone is not burned hurry to get to a fire. With most
out by the time they get to yours.” wildfires in South Texas, all that
I hope not, because as always with is typically in danger are the
the East Foundation, we have a lot pastures that probably needed
going on. burning anyway, and maybe some
Undocumented alien traffic has fences. We can rebuild fences and
EDDIE REY N A do without grass for a short time,
increased exponentially across
our ranches. Eddie Reyna, our but we cannot do without you. Be
Eddie is a native Texan born in
new area foreman, found a set of careful!
Mission and raised in Rio Grande
City, Texas. He has a Bachelor of rattling horns in the San Antonio REDNECKS AND P RESCRIBED B U RN I N G –
Science in Agriculture Science Viejo several miles from the nearest A CAUTIONARY TALE
from Texas A&M University- perimeter fence, so poaching is still
A number of years ago, when I was a
Kingsville. After earning his happening as well. In other news,
game warden, I received a call from
degree, he moved to West Texas we had to call an ambulance to
the dispatcher from a neighboring
and worked with Cargill Cattle San Antonio Viejo and ultimately
county. The dispatcher reported
Feeders in Dalhart and Bovina, airlifted the patient to the hospital,
that people were killing hawks (it
where he was a yard foreman, and we also had a wildfire.
always seems that this happens
a feed manager, and cattle On the subject of the wildfire, I want when the game warden responsible
and yard manager. In 2018, he to thank the Quail Research Team for the area is out of pocket.) The
headed back to Kingsville and because everyone showed up and dispatcher advised me to meet the
became a unit manager for helped. Andrea Montalvo, Landon complainant on the highway near
the Norias Division of the King Schofield, and Abe Woodard noticed where the violation occurred. As
Ranch. the fire while flying quail surveys I neared the location, I could see
As the new area foreman for and were able to report the fire a large plume of smoke due to a
the East Foundation, Eddie’s before it got too far out of hand. prescribed or controlled burn taking
primary duties consist of Game Warden Carlos Maldonado place near the highway.
cattle inventory management, helped by bringing the Jim Hogg
I could see there were many hawks
branding, weaning, and all day- county fire department to the scene.
circling and dropping down to catch
to-day livestock management Quail guides, Brandon Hubert, and
the mice and rats scurrying from
responsibilities. He is passionate Blaine Riley headed to the fire with
the fire. The numerous hawks had
about the beef industry and feels tractors equipped with disks, along
caught the eye of the University
that working for the Foundation with many others from the Dyer and
of Texas Ornithological Society
allows him to make a difference Matador hunting camps who are
members and other bird watchers
in the industry. associated with the quail research
who happened to be passing by on
project.
Eddie lives on the San Antonio the highway. They were observing
Viejo Ranch with his wife, Our neighbor, Whit Jones, also came the hawks with binoculars and
Amanda, and their son, David. In to the rescue on a tractor equipped spotting scopes from the highway,
his free time, he enjoys hunting, with a disk. Everyone worked well and these people turned out to be
fishing, and spending time with after dark to get the fire under the complainants and witnesses.
his family. control. The fire consumed around
In their words, the “horror” started
2,500 acres, 500 of which were
when a truck with a couple of men
on the East Foundation’s Buena
started driving around the fire and
Vista ranch. I want to extend East
shooting the hawks. They also said
Foundation’s appreciation to all that
they could see them drinking beer
helped.
E A S T F O U N D AT I O N . N E T 9as they had exceptionally good
binoculars and spotting scopes.
I needed to leave quickly to
apprehend the culprits, so I asked
the complainants to write down
what they had seen, and I would be
back to pick up their statements. I
was able to apprehend the subjects,
who I knew were involved in the
quail hunting business. These
particular guys hated anything
that would hurt their dogs, deplete
the quail population, or limit their
ability to take quail. Therefore
javelinas, rattlesnakes, raptors, and
game wardens were on their list as
enemies. These guys were normally
not bad people, but after a long day
of fire preparation and maintaining
the burn, they started drinking
beer and lost some of their normal
restraint. I gathered my evidence
and their information and went
back to the complainants to get
their statements.
Just an FYI – if you ever ask
professors, doctoral students, or
even master’s students for an
official statement, get ready for
a dissertation. I received details
ranging from the scientific names
of every bird that flew over, to what
kind of mouse was preferred by
which species of hawk. However, I
also had a very explicit description
of the violators and their actions. By
the time I got finished reading the
numerous statements, I was burned
out.
Anyway, the moral of the story –
drinking and prescribed burning do
not go together! It is dangerous and
makes you do stupid things.
© Wyman Meinzer
10 FEBRUARY 2021You can also read
