After a delicious breakfast, we headed to B-Bar Ranch where we were greeted by
Mark and his son Taylor. They are experienced Montana ranchers who talked to us
about invasive species, specifically the knapweed plant. They taught us about how
it spread from Eastern Europe to the United States on their ships. Within the
U.S.A, it spread with the help of erosion, rain, wind, and animals.
Once we learned about the dangers that the knapweed plant has on the Greater
Yellowstone Ecosystem and Mark’s ranch such as harming many of the other plants
near it by releasing phototoxins, it was time for us to start weeding them
out. Weeding was tough. We used trowels and shovels, trying to dig out not just the knapweeds, but their taproots which can extend far beneath the surface of the soil. We even had a competition to see who could dig out the longest taproot.
After a bit of rain and lunch we headed to the main lodge of the ranch. There
we were greeted with some delicious cookies and lemonade. Mark began to talk to
us about his experience as a rancher and the problems he faces. We then learned
about the different ways that the various predators in the area attack his
cattle. For example, wolves will often work as a pack to take down the cattle
by slashing open their underside. We also learned about Mark’s perspective as a
rancher on the harms that brucellosis can cause cattle and how it has affected
other ranchers he knows. Mark’s personal perspective helped us form our own
opinions on this complex issue as it not only involves bison but also elk, who
can both spread brucellosis.
At the end of the day we took showers at an RV camp and had
quinoa for dinner. After, we played a fast paced Yellowstone trivia game to end
off the day.
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