One noxious weed a lot of gardeners deal with is the dreaded goat head weed. This weed forms a dense mat that overtakes almost any planting area and causes a lot of problems. Especially among garden beds where you grow ground cover, look out for this plant.
The first recorded instance of goat head weed occurred in California in 1902. As the decades went on, horticulturists noticed the noxious weed formed monocultures that outcompeted native plants. This led to the classification of the plant as an invasive species.
With that in mind, identification and removal of the dreaded goat head weed are on every one of us who grow. Among native habitat conservationists, farmers, and ranchers, we can reduce the chance of invasion by this weed into our gardens, our bare feet, and in the feet of our livestock.
So, what is goat head weed and how do you get rid of it? Read on, and find out! READ MORE
Two types of chemical control suited to removing goat head weed are glyphosate and oryzalin.
In this illuminating book, brain scientist and horsewoman Janet Jones describes human and equine brains working together. Using plain language, she explores the differences and similarities between equine and human ways of negotiating the world. Mental abilities—like seeing, learning, fearing, trusting, and focusing—are discussed from both human and horse perspectives. Throughout, true stories of horses and handlers attempting to understand each other—sometimes successfully, sometimes not—help to illustrate the principles.
Horsemanship of every kind depends on mutual interaction between equine and human brains. When we understand the function of both, we can learn to communicate with horses on their terms instead of ours. By meeting horses halfway, we achieve many goals.
We improve performance.
We save valuable training time.
We develop much deeper bonds with our horses.
We handle them with insight and kindness instead of force or command.
We comprehend their misbehavior in ways that allow solutions.
We reduce the human mistakes we often make while working with them.
Instead of working against the horse’s brain, expecting him to function in unnatural and counterproductive ways, this book provides the information needed to ride with the horse’s brain. Each principle is applied to real everyday issues in the arena or on the trail, often illustrated with true stories from the author’s horse training experience. Horse Brain, Human Brain offers revolutionary ideas that should be considered by anyone who works with horses.
Background:
In 2018 Forest Service staff and partners developed a week long training program with the vision of “providing the highest quality Wilderness training program in the Northern Rockies that will educate, support, and cultivate a community of present and future wilderness and wildland stewards through the cooperation of the Forest Service, partners, and volunteers.”
The Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute (NRWSI) is a training partnership between multiple partners that include the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation, Society for Wilderness Stewardship, United States Forest Service, and the Ninemile Wildlands Training Center. The Institute currently features one week of training hosted each year. NRWSI has been put on hold for the last three years but now we are ready to bring practitioners back together again in person in 2023.
The 2023 Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute will be held from May 22 – 26, 2023 in Powell, ID. It will start at 1pm PT on Monday and conclude at 3pm PT on Friday. All participants are expected to sign up for the entire week. The planning team is currently pulling together the training sessions and the application process will open up in March with a deadline to register no later than April 7th.
COST: There is no cost to attend.
FOOD: On your own – no food provided. Participants will handle their own meals. Cooking facilities may be provided – more information will be provided ahead of the event.
CLICK HERE FOR SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
APPLICATION WINDOW CLOSED (If interested contact them about a place in the 2024 workshop)
Please contact Jimmy Gaudry (jimmy.gaudry@usda.gov) or Carol Hennessey (carol.hennessey@usda.gov) for more information.
Congratulations to Lisa Griffith and Shelly Duff
Thank you for your participation and a special thanks to our presenters!
If you weren’t able to join us please find the highlights attached. If you would like to participate in our “Vision of Recreation for the Future,” complete and return the first slide in the attachment and return to me.
If you are interested in volunteering space or refreshments for future meetings, web communications, or other ideas, please reach out to me via email.
We are coordinating our next meeting for August at the Bogus Basin Downtown Office. More details to come.
Best,
Catharine
Catharine Beverly-Bishop
Recreation Management Specialist
Forest Service
Boise National Forest
catharine.beverly-bishop@usda.gov
1857 HWY 16
Emmett, ID 83617
This past week I was fortunate enough to join our field leaders and Wilderness Ranger Fellows at the Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute which took place at Powell Ranger Station near the north end of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness for five days. The skills institute brought together 150+ people from all over the region. There were many field-going folks, as well as program leaders from the Forest Service, people from the National Parks, and other nonprofit organizations like SBFC. Everyone was there to dive deep into the traditional skills and knowledge it takes to keep Wilderness accessible and wild for everyone.
I was extremely impressed with our SBFC staff and fellows. Our strong group of twenty showed a massive amount of enthusiasm and leadership throughout the week. None of them were afraid to speak up and to ask questions, even though many of our people, particularly our fellows, are very new to this world. I see so much strength and potential within this group. They have become great friends and it’s apparent that they will be ready for their first hitches in June to get into the Wilderness and do good work.
Thanks to all the people who helped to make the 2023 NRWSI possible, including our very own program manager Josh Page! Due to the major efforts of many, the future of our Wilderness lands are brighter than ever.
Looking ahead, we will be coming to you with regular blog posts from our field staff and fellows, as well as with other helpful communications to give you info and tools to get into these landscapes throughout the season. Let us know what you think and what you’d like to hear more of from us in the future!
Here’s to the Frank and Selway being wild and accessible forever!
I’ll see you out there.
Ryan Ghelfi
Tonight we are hosting a volunteer webinar on Zoom at 6:15 PM (Mountain Time). Come learn about our trail projects and get your questions answered! Sign up here!
SBFC will partner with Here Montana to take folks out on a stewardship project in the Bitterroot Mountains in 2023. Listen to their director Alex Kim talk about their mission.
Keep an eye out next year for information about the 2024 Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute
Our friends at the Idaho Trails Association are looking for volunteers for a couple of awesome Wilderness projects in June on the Selway River Trail (women’s only) and out of Wilderness Gateway (family trip!)
SBFC has a few spots left on our single day volunteer project at Colgate Licks on June 3 and Horse Creek on June 21. Sign up before the spots are gone!
On Thursday, June 1, we are celebrating National Trails Day a few days early with a screening of Outdoor Idaho’s In the Shadow of the Bitterroots at Mother Earth Brew Co. in Boise. Learn more!
About this item
Non-pneumatic trauma bandage
Can apply 30-40+ lbs of pressure to the wound
Multi-functional bandage for various wounds
Compact, lightweight, waterproof, and vacuum sealed packaging
Sterile, best-in-class 8-year shelf life
Integrated pressure bar exerts immediate and direct pressure to the wound
Built-in closure bar: no pins, no clips, no tape, no hook-and-loop, no knots
Non-adherent 6″ pad eliminates pain during removal and prevents wound re-opening
Want to brush up on your backcountry skills? We have some great (and free!) learning opportunities coming up. See our Upcoming Webinars and Events section below for more info about these in-person and online events:
A Balanced Intake of Key Minerals is Essential for the Support of IR Horses
Minerals have direct and indirect involvement in virtually every action in the body and have important effects on insulin resistance (IR) or its consequences. IR is different in the horse than in the human, but the same basic principles apply. There is evidence of activated antioxidant defenses in the tissues of IR horses.
Building the horse’s own antioxidant basic defenses is most effective. This includes the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase enzyme systems, as well as the antioxidants glutathione, CoQ10, carotenoids and vitamin A, flavonoids, and vitamins E and C. Glutathione is particularly widely distributed.
SOD absolutely requires copper and zinc. Catalase requires iron, which is not an issue, as the typical equine diet supplies plenty of iron.
Glutathione activity depends on selenium, a very common deficiency. Selenium is also essential for the generation of the active form of thyroid hormone, T3, from T4. Selenoproteins, important to immune function, are just beginning to be looked at in depth. Both IR and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) horses are prone to inflammatory and allergic-type immune reactions rather than using the more sophisticated arm of the immune system.
Zinc is a commonly deficient mineral. Low serum zinc is associated with IR and type 2 diabetes in humans and rats. Supplementation of zinc supports defenses against type 2 diabetes in rat models; exactly why has not been determined. It is known that zinc is important on several levels as it’s involved in insulin release and sensitivity, as well as being an antioxidant in SOD.
Like zinc, copper is critical for SOD function. Copper deficiency causes IR and fatty liver in rats. Low liver copper is found in human fatty livers. Deficiency is also linked to higher liver iron in IR, a known problem in IR horses, too.
Magnesium has been associated with IR for 40 years, with hundreds of human papers dedicated to the subject. Magnesium is not a treatment, but by correcting a deficiency it makes the disease easier to control.
Magnesium dietary intake and magnesium status—whole body levels—are both associated with strong defenses against IR and they deteriorate when someone develops IR. It becomes a cycle you need to stay on top of to allow stabilization.
A 2013 study included almost 2000 non-diabetic subjects that were followed for 15.6 years. Magnesium intake was a “significant protective factor” against type 2 diabetes, including progression from IR to diabetes. Researchers could predict who would most likely become IR by looking at their magnesium levels.
Magnesium increases insulin receptor number and sensitivity in experimental rodent IR. Magnesium deficiency interferes with insulin signaling. Deficiency has also been linked to activation of allergic and inflammatory reactions.
Iodine is essential to production of thyroid hormone. Low iodine status has been identified in human patients with type 2 diabetes. Normal thyroid function is required for insulin sensitivity.
IR horses may also have low thyroid hormone levels in some cases. This is probably euthyroid sick syndrome, meaning it is an effect rather than a cause. In most of these horses, with correct levels of selenium and iodine, and control of IR, the levels will rise again. Low thyroid is not a primary part of the syndrome but can make some horses very depressed and lethargic. Thyroid supplementation can be used but by addressing the above you will not need supplementation long term.
Chromium has been important for people, probably due to processed foods being stripped of many essential minerals. It is required for a normal cellular response to insulin. The exact dietary requirement is unknown, but supplementation in IR horses is not helpful in most cases. Grass absorbs chromium very efficiently and soil levels are abundant in most areas. The ECIR Group has observed a problem only when horses are eating hay grown on alkaline soils where the plants may not absorb the chromium as readily.
It’s not as fancy as a pricey magic bullet supplement but the best place to start supporting your IR horse on a low-sugar and low-starch diet is with balanced intake of key minerals.
REFERENCES
Hata A, Doi Y, Ninomiya T, Mukai N, Hirakawa Y, Hata J, Ozawa M, Uchida K, Shirota T, Kitazono T, Kiyohara Y. Magnesium intake decreases Type 2 diabetes risk through the improvement of insulin resistance and inflammation: the Hisayama Study. Diabet Med. 2013 Dec;30(12):1487-94. doi: 10.1111/dme.12250. Epub 2013 Jun 29.
Hruby, A, Meigs J, O’Donnell C, Jacques P, McKeown N. Higher magnesium intake reduces risk of impaired glucose and insulin metabolism and progression from prediabetes to diabetes in middle-aged Americans. Clinical Trial Diabetes Care. 2014 Feb;37(2):419-27. doi: 10.2337/dc13-1397. Epub 2013 Oct 2.
Unfortunately, it’s a story that repeats itself every year—wildfire racing across the landscape. As forests burn, post-wildfire recovery is becoming the norm for trail maintainers across the U.S. as these fires take a toll on popular recreation areas and natural resources. Rebuilding trails is imperative for continued use.
The devastation that comes when you learn of a wildfire burning in a beloved area that holds fond memories is traumatic. Fires can mean a tragic loss of lives or homes. And we’re left wondering what the area will look like once the flames are extinguished. Fire changes an environment; understory vegetation is destroyed, trees are torched, and trails become moonscapes of ash.
Wildfire is an essential part of a natural landscape. But it is undeniable that wildfires can negatively impact outdoor recreation resources. In these cases, post-fire restoration can be crucial to prevent further damage and spur recovery.
The already astronomical price tag of wildfire suppression is projected to increase over the next decade. It comes at a cost to other Forest Service programs. Most of the Forest Service’s budget is spent fighting fires, not restoring those acres that have burned. Volunteer efforts are needed to maintain fire-damaged trails.
In the past several years, fire recovery has been an increasing part of Back Country Horsemen’s work to keep trails open and accessible for equine use. BCH crews work closely with land managers to ensure that trail maintenance positively impacts landscapes after a wildfire.
If you’re unfamiliar with trail work and rebuilding trails, you might be wondering, “What sort of work is needed on trails after a wildfire, and why is that work so important?”
When a BCH volunteer team attacks a fire rehab project, the first order of business generally includes removing blow-downs from the trail corridor. Fire-scorched trees with compromised root systems tend to topple due to wind and weather, making it very challenging for those on horseback to get down the trail. Riding around sections of blow creates a maze of “social” trails, increasing erosion of the main throughway. By clearing blow down, we’re making the ride more manageable and more enjoyable, and keeping all users on the same path reduces the impact on the land.
Once the deadfall is removed, tread and erosion control measures are tackled. “Tread” is the trail – the hardened surface our ponies travel on. Tread, as all horsemen know, is frequently studded with roots. Many of those roots burn during a fire, leaving dangerous holes in the tread. Sweating BCH volunteers fill each of those holes to keep the trail safe for stock use.
Erosion control measures are undertaken once the deadfall is cleared and the holes filled. Post-fire trails without these structures can soon turn into vast trenches where the sides of the trail brush against your horse’s belly. These constructions are built with native stone, timber, and sweat.
Once you understand the work that must be accomplished after wildfire rolls through, it’s essential to appreciate how it is executed. Many BCH volunteer work projects take place in designated Wilderness, where only non-motorized tools are permitted. Wilderness trail work takes you back to a time before mechanization. Fallen trees are removed with crosscut saws powered by muscle, trail tread is re-built with well-worn picks, and water bars are installed with shovels and grit.
The sweat-stained clothes of trail crew volunteers remind us that repairing trails after a wildfire is hard work. Still, the miles of new and improved trails are a valuable reward to every trail user. Please think of the efforts that volunteers put into keeping your trail system open. Consider helping keep your trails open by joining a trails advocacy organization, such as Back Country Horsemen. Even if you don’t have the horsepower to muscle a Pulaski, you can still assist in many ways. Trail work support can be helping coordinate resources and calendars to feeding the volunteers at a base camp.
Deworming used to be an ordeal that neither the horses nor I enjoyed. I would sneak up to the horse, grab the halter tight, and jam the dewormer tube in his mouth. It was a vain attempt to get the job done quickly before the inevitable fight. Not only did this make the horse defensive, but it also made the process downright dangerous. Deworming days were dreaded by all involved. It doesn’t have to be.
I now look at deworming as an ongoing process, not an event to be avoided. If you take the time to make administering oral medications a regular part of your routine, the process can become much more manageable and worry-free. My goal is for deworming to be a casual kind of event. No worries, no fuss, and most importantly, no drama. Here’s how I get my animals to relax and accept their meds.
The first step is getting him used to having the tube around him. I rub an empty applicator all over him. If he fights it, I hold the tube on him until he stops resisting then I take it away. Approach and retreat are key here. As soon as the horse stops moving, I remove the tube. I’ve had horses where at first, I couldn’t even approach them with the tube. In those cases, I start by just standing near them and then slowly progress to touching them. Take your time and be relaxed.
Once your horse can tolerate having an empty tube resting on his face without any fuss, it’s time to up the ante and ask him to take the tube in his mouth. It helps to have the tube filled with something good. I like using applesauce. Fill an empty dewormer, or a similar type of tube, with applesauce. Don’t bother wiping off any residue. Gently place the tube near the horse’s mouth so he can smell and taste the applesauce on the outside. Once the horse learns that the tube contains something yummy, you’ll be able to gently depress the plunger and squirt the contents into his mouth. Repeat this practice “deworming” with the good stuff until the process is smooth and easy. When my horses see a deworming tube now, they come running for their treat.
Once your animals are excited and happy when they see the deworming tube, it’s time to use something that reduces internal parasites better than applesauce. Now is the time to use a little deception and then a lot of apologies. Before heading out with a real dewormer, I smear the outside with applesauce and fill an empty tube with applesauce. The coating on the outside of the real dewormer will help disguise the foul smell and taste until it’s too late, and the applesauce-filled tube serves as an apology. Always end on a positive note. If you administer the nasty medication and finish the process there, your horse will remember it longer than you.
To reinforce the idea that 99.9% of the time a dewormer tube is a good thing, I follow up with applesauce shots for the next few days after applying a real dewormer. Until once again, the ponies come running when they see the tubes. Once a month, I break out the applesauce tubes to keep the good vibes going.
I rely on my horses and mules to get me into wild and fabulous places. Part of preparing them for that requires regular preventive medical care, including deworming or administering any oral medications. I want my animals to trust me. I work towards that goal by making what used to be an unpleasant experience something to be enjoyed.
For more practical information on trail riding and camping with horses, visit me at www.TrailMeister.com. From the TrailMeister website, you can not only surf the world’s most extensive guide to horse trails and camps, but you can also order my new book, The ABCs of Trail Riding and Camping with Horses. With 178 topics, oer 315 pages, covering Essential Knowledge for horse owners, from training tips to outdoor skills to increase your safety and fun on the trail and in camp. Here’s the link https://amzn.to/3CuErid
SEE MORE ABOUT THIS TRAINING: 508-NWTC Mailer 2023
In June 2022, the Pulaski Users Group (PUG) and the Flourish Foundation embarked on a collaborative trip to the Garden Isle of Kaua’i. Five alumni from the Compassionate Leaders Program, along with a student from Oahu, and PUG and Flourish staff, spent two weeks exploring the island, deepening their understanding of and appreciation for the cultural practices and significance of the Hawaiian culture and engaging in regenerative tourism.
What makes the Hawaiian Islands truly special is the stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and the deeply rooted practice of mālama. Mālama means to take care of, tend, attend, care for, preserve, protect, save, and maintain. The Hawaiian culture exemplifies this practice and the group was fortunate to experience this in a deep and profound way by giving back to the local trails.
Please join us to watch the premier of the video created by Flourish and PUG about mālama and their time on Kauai. After the short film, they will discuss how we can all engage in regenerative tourism and mindful environmental stewardship.
The event will be livestreamed and available to watch later. Click here to watch online.
Mountain Manners Handbook LNT – Seven Principles Training
3 Miles An Hour (Montana PBS) PBS Special on legendary packer and LNT mentor Smoke Elser
In the event of an emergency, an interactive SOS message can be sent to the 24/7 staffed Garmin Response Center. The trained staff is available to respond to messages, track devices and coordinate with emergency services or others to provide assistance, giving individuals peace of mind in the scariest of situations. Garmin Response stays in touch with individuals until help arrives or until they no longer require assistance.
With 100% global Iridium® satellite network coverage, an SOS can be triggered globally.* That includes lesser traveled places — the southern Pacific Ocean and northern Canada, for example. It is interesting to note how conglomerations of incidents indicate mountainous regions, such as the Pacific Crest Trail in western United States, the Alps in Europe and nearly all of New Zealand.
The locations of SOS incidents speak to the power of the Iridium satellite network, the intel of inReach technology, and the sophisticated inner workings of Garmin Response and its ability to make timely connections with local emergency resources in almost any region of the world.
In the event of an emergency, an interactive SOS message can be sent to the 24/7 staffed Garmin Response Center. The trained staff is available to respond to messages, track devices and coordinate with emergency services or others to provide assistance, giving individuals peace of mind in the scariest of situations. Garmin Response stays in touch with individuals until help arrives or until they no longer require assistance.
With 100% global Iridium® satellite network coverage, an SOS can be triggered globally.* That includes lesser traveled places — the southern Pacific Ocean and northern Canada, for example. It is interesting to note how conglomerations of incidents indicate mountainous regions, such as the Pacific Crest Trail in western United States, the Alps in Europe and nearly all of New Zealand.
The locations of SOS incidents speak to the power of the Iridium satellite network, the intel of inReach technology, and the sophisticated inner workings of Garmin Response and its ability to make timely connections with local emergency resources in almost any region of the world.
Our Mission
Native Land Digital strives to create and foster conversations about the history of colonialism, Indigenous ways of knowing, and settler-Indigenous relations, through educational resources such as our map and Territory Acknowledgement Guide. We strive to go beyond old ways of talking about Indigenous people and to develop a platform where Indigenous communities can represent themselves and their histories on their own terms. In doing so, Native Land Digital creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together.
Land is something sacred to all of us, whether we consciously appreciate it or not — it is the space upon which we play, live, eat, find love, and experience life. The land is ever-changing and ever-shifting, giving us — and other creatures and beings on the earth — an infinite number of gifts and lessons.
For Native Land Digital, what we are mapping is more than just a flat picture. The land itself is sacred, and it is not easy to draw lines that divide it up into chunks that delineate who “owns” different parts of land. In reality, we know that the land is not something to be exploited and “owned”, but something to be honoured and treasured. However, because of the complexities of history, the kind of mapping we undetake is an important exercise, insofar as it brings an awareness of the real lived history of Indigenous peoples and nations in a long era of colonialism.
We aim to improve the relationship of people, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, with the land around them and with the real history and sacredness of that land. This involves acknowledging and righting the wrongs of history, and also involves a personal journey through the importance of connecting with the earth, its creatures, and its teachings.
Thus, while we make a strong effort to teach about colonialism and to bring forth Indigenous narratives, we also strive to integrate what is sometimes called an “Indigenous way of knowing” when it comes to the importance and sacredness of land in our daily lives. We hope to inspire people to gain a better understanding of themselves, their ancestors, and the world they live in, so that we can all move forward into a better future.
The following list sets forth the minimally acceptable number and type of first-aid supplies for first-aid kits required under paragraph (d)(2) of the logging standard. The contents of the first-aid kit listed should be adequate for small work sites, consisting of approximately two to three employees. When larger operations or multiple operations are being conducted at the same location, additional first-aid kits should be provided at the work site or additional quantities of supplies should be included in the first-aid kits:
1. Gauze pads (at least 4 x 4 inches).
2. Two large gauze pads (at least 8 x 10 inches).
3. Box adhesive bandages (band-aids).
4. One package gauze roller bandage at least 2 inches wide.
5. Two triangular bandages.
6. Wound cleaning agent such as sealed moistened towelettes.
7. Scissors.
8. At least one blanket.
9. Tweezers.
10. Adhesive tape.
11. Latex gloves.
12. Resuscitation equipment such as resuscitation bag, airway, or
pocket mask.
13. Two elastic wraps.
14. Splint.
15. Directions for requesting emergency assistance.
[59 FR 51672, Oct. 12, 1994; 60 FR 47022, Sept. 8, 1995]
Many outdoor enthusiasts are increasingly aware of the impact that their actions have on the environment. In order to minimize their negative footprint, they know they should take certain basic steps whenever they camp, hike, or otherwise engage in outdoor activities. Unfortunately, the steps that people often take aren’t enough. When it comes to human interaction with the environment, even seemingly harmless actions may cause significant damage. Before embarking on an outdoor excursion, it’s important to understand what one should and should not do.
Leave no trace is a set of seven principles that minimize one’s negative impact on the environment when engaging in outdoor activities. The seven leave no trace principles are:
People should follow these guidelines whenever they are enjoying the outdoors, regardless of whether they are engaging in activities that are reachable by car or backcountry activities that are only reachable by hiking, climbing, or boating.
The National Wilderness Skills Institute was held May 24 – 26, 2022 with training for wilderness seasonals and volunteers. You can check out sessions below.
The Forest Service and National Park Service now recognize each other’s training and certification programs. The agreement between the National Park Service and the US Forest Service has been updated to recognize that “Each Agency will accept the saw program training, evaluation, and certification conducted under the other Agency’s program for individuals working under agreement for a volunteer partner or cooperator organization on lands managed or areas administered by each Agency.”
Poudre Wilderness Volunteers Video Nominated for an EMMY
Several months ago, CBS KCNC-TV Denver aired a documentary entitled Scarred: Lessons Learned from The Cameron Peak Fire. It included several vignettes, one of which was about the work PWV is doing. As part of marketing, they teased out the documentary by airing extended versions of the vignettes prior to the actual show. The PWV story was aired first. Several of the video clips were provided by our Photo/video team and CBS was very complimentary of the quality we provided.
