Perhaps Len needs to find a different occupation if he is not intelligent enough to learn how to coexist or manage his livestock responsibly. Hedrick is complaining because he and his fellow ranchers may actually have to do something which is to actually manage their cattle while on publicly-owned land in the CNF. Perhaps if the Diamond M ranch managed their cattle as required, they wouldn’t be losing them to wolves. But that’s probably “backwards” thinking, like protecting waterways, on our part………
He left livestock out past the close of grazing season, placed salt blocks in close proximity to rendezvous Den locations, turned out early… all in an area that isnt livestock friendly. It would seem to a normal business Owner that if your doing something that costs you money, you change what it is your doing. But the Government keeps bailing Ranchers out…
The McIrvin family, owners of the Diamond M cattle ranch for five generations, have been running cattle in Colville National Forest, one million acres of federal land in Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties. There’s no good reason for it because the land is ill-suited for cattle and it’s home to about 100 wolves; an endangered species in WA state.
The Diamond M has about 4,500 head of cattle. They lost 16 cattle to wolves in 2016 according to the Seattle Times. That’s 1/3 of one percent of their livestock. As of today, 18 wolves have been killed out of a total population of about 110, or 16%.
I’ll say that again so that it sinks in.
16% of the total population of an endangered species in WA state have been killed because one rancher lost .003% of his herd grazing on land that he doesn’t own.
The worst part of this madness is that every other rancher in Eastern WA takes the compensation offered by the State for cattle depredation, which equals twice the value of the dead cows.
But Len McIrvin doesn’t want the State’s money. He wants dead wolves. His grandson and partner, Justin Hedrick, who’s also president of the Steven’s County Cattlemen’s Association (SCCA), also wants a return to leg-hold traps (currently illegal) according to the Seattle Times.
“It’s such a crooked, damn deal they’re throwing at us,” (Len McIrvin) said. “Wolves and cattle are like oil and water. They do not mix, and they never will.”
“If we take $100,000 from the department, that’s us saying, ‘It’s all right for the wolves to be here as long as you pay us,'” Len McIrvin said. “It’s not all right, they will put us out of business.”
Justin Hedrick on the “flawed” Colville National Forest Plan Revision
It’s not just wolves that the McIrvins and Hedrick want gone. They’re also opposed to environmental protections for wildlife according to this letter that Hedrick wrote in his capacity as President of the Cattlemen’s Association to the US Forest Service and US Dept of Agriculture about their proposed CNF management plan revisions:
“(T)he proposed Colville National Forest Plan Revision would impose nonsensical, arbitrary restrictions onto the current allotments, making compliant management impossible. For instance, parts of the plan require that ranchers manage their cattle in order to leave enough grass for snowshoe hair (sic) that may eventually be eaten by lynx. Other areas require that ranchers leave six to eight inches of stubble height near waterways and salt blocks and watering tanks would be prohibited around rare plants.
Additionally, cattle are required to be managed so they do not congregate on trails, destination areas and cultural sites. Grazing cattle must also be kept away from spawning fish.”
In short, Hedrick is complaining because he and his fellow ranchers may actually have to manage their cattle while on publicly-owned land in the CNF. Perhaps if the Diamond M ranch managed their cattle as required, they wouldn’t be losing them to wolves. But that’s probably “nonsensical” thinking, like protecting waterways, spawning fish, and snowshoe hare (not “hair”, Justin).
The good news is that the U.S. Forest Service and USDA kept those provisions intact in the final CNF management plan released last month.
Source: WA State Has Now Killed 18 Wolves Because Of One Ranch – the Diamond M
Comments
McIrvin is an “entitled” welfare rancher. He is an example of the worst gutter dweller in our society. He not kills wildlife, he enjoys it, and it is at taxpayer expense. All he had to do is bitch and lie. That is what had now become the “ modus operendi” of our country. Thus is absolutely disgusting. Get his damn cows off our land.
Boycott this rancher and all stores that sell his products
What a prize piece of SEWAGE-SLUDGE this dogturd is !! The WOLVES were in Amerika before any chimpoids were, and if cattle and Wolves don’t mix, remove the cattle – ranching is a dying ‘business’ anyway, as more and more chimpoids are realising that eating meat is a perversion that harms Wildlife, gives we HERBIVOROUS chimpoids cancers and other ailments, and destroy the whole fuggin’ PLANET !! This FUCKWITT’s attitude is the same as if he was given FREE ACCOMMODATION in a big block, then started whining about the other tenants he had to share the place with – you’re on a FREEBIE, on land YOU don’t own, in a kuntry in which YOU don’t belong, so get the fuck over yourself, STOP whining, and get a REAL job that doesn’t harm Nature – OK ??!!
Where’s MY comment gone ??!!
its still there, we just were busy today, and didnt get all approved 😉
My suggestion would be to cut him from his allotments and his subsidies. There is no reason why the public purse should support this rancher who blatantly ignores good ranching policies.
I met and engaged Justin Hedrick in conversation over the CNF Plan. I don’t think there was single instance where we were in agreement. I doubt there is much we would agree on related to forest management or politics. But, he is still a human being doing what he believes in. Mocking him for his spelling does nothing to help resolve the situation on the ground between wolves and livestock. If we engage respectfully, we may be able to change minds. At a minimum we can show one another common courtesy. In the end we are all doing what we believe in and trying to take care of our families.
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