The Rimrock Report
The University of Arizona,
School of Natural Resources and the Environment
Volume 3, Issue 4
Oct. 1, 2010
Things ain’t like they used to be...
“…so we talked the afternoon away, on politics and life,
Inside this issue:
Dallas in the glory days, what if John Wayne hadn’t died.
We reached the same conclusion, this old man and me,
Things ain’t like they
1
used to be...
things ain’t like they used to be, things ain’t like they used to be…”*
Some of you will have heard this song, if you have heard me play at the SRM meetings or
maybe at some other function in times past. Most of you will have not, so I put a link to it at
the end of this article. This is a song about a young man who is down on his luck, who
meets a homeless older gentleman, they sit and shoot the bull awhile, and the older man
finally offers the young one some sage advice:
“… boy you think you’ve had it rough,
John’s Plant of the “week” 4
The View From The Rim
6
Bat Ramp Update
6
Just Me Talking
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you’re giving thought to giving up,
well, the surest way to lose is not to race…”
It changes the young man’s life and he lives happily ever
after. (Hey, it’s a song, what did you expect?)
Now, that is not exactly what this article is about but I think
it makes a nice lead-in. What I am writing about is the change that is happening in the
agriculture and natural resource professions. Specifically, the changing demographic among
those who choose these career paths and how this change may affect the way these
professionals view themselves and their work in the future.
Those of us roughly my age and older (next year I will officially qualify as an antique) are
well aware of the trend in our profession away from folks with mostly rural backgrounds
(i.e. personally connected to the land and the life) to a large proportion of non-rural
students who major in these fields, and thus enter the work force. The number of women
and minorities in these disciplines has also increased. Now, don’t get ahead of me, I am not
saying this is a bad thing. It’s just different. In fact I enjoy and applaud the variety of people
I get to work with, even when I don’t agree with them. I am glad that there are urban/
suburban people who become interested in agriculture and environmental sciences and want
to make a contribution. I appreciate the difference in knowledge and perspective this brings
“Biodiversity can
also mean a
diversity of
bio’s…”
The Rimrock Report
Things ain’t like they used to be...continued
to the profession and the opportunities for each of us to learn from each other. Biodiversity can also mean a diversity of
bio’s… and not all of us who fit into some pigeon hole (old, young, rural, suburban) have the same ideas, interests, or
abilities. But the fact that “the times they are a changing” is something we all need to acknowledge and take on with
our eyes and minds open.
Now, before you come to the conclusion that this discussion is nothing more than me pining for the good old days like
a bunch of coverall wearing philosophers at the BS table in the corner café.., which many of us who wear Stetsons and
Wranglers are accused of being from time to time; consider that The Wildlife Professional devoted the entire Fall 2010
issue to the subject of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. What’s the connection? Well, one of the
tenets of this model is that hunting is a viable tool for game management. The relation to our discussion is that as
society changes, fewer people hunt, fewer understand hunting, etc… which means fewer students who will become
wildlife professionals do… and so, this change is going to affect the profession and how wildlife resources are managed
and funded in the future. One article discusses this subject in particular (Miller pp 80-82). Others demonstrate efforts by
those in the profession who have become proactive and taken on the task of educating the public about hunting and why
it is important (Unger pp 20-21; McCabe pp72-75). For me, the standout statements in the magazine are found in the
article by Posewitz (pp 32-34) in which he talks about the results of a 1992 symposium. Basically, this gathering said to
hunters that they need to: 1) clean up their act and, 2) lead or become irrelevant (with regard to conservation, etc…).
So, like other environmental and agricultural disciplines; good, bad, or ugly, the range profession is changing. You
could take the articles in the aforementioned wildlife magazine and insert grazing where hunting is found and pretty
much write the same story. I find it ironic that while “the public” tends to view range people as only knowing or caring
about livestock, the fact is that fewer people in the profession now grow up around agriculture, especially animal
agriculture, so fewer of us understand how grazing works, how it is applied, etc… In 1993, Tueller and Burkhardt wrote
an obituary for the range profession in which they state:
“Currently, most range managers and range scientists are perceived as being only involved with the business of
livestock production (cattle and sheep). We have been singularly unsuccessful at informing the public of what we are
about. That we have been for the past 60-70 years working steadily and successfully toward better management of all
the multiple uses of rangeland resources seems lost in the current environment debate.”
In conclusion, I think the same two statements aimed (pun intended) at hunters apply to those of us involved in grazing
and range management in general. First, there are instances where we need to “clean up our act”. It is up to us to
improve how we manage the amount, timing, duration, and distribution of grazing. Overall, we do a good job with this
but it only takes a few bad examples to offset the good. We do have some bad grazing to deal with just as hunting has
had it’s share of mistakes. The actions of a few or the actions of the past should not condemn the whole lot, however.
That is where “lead or become irrelevant” comes in. The more we acknowledge the changes that are occurring, deal
with them head on and make the public aware of who we are, what we know, and why we are important, they will more
likely understand and appreciate the many uses and contributions of rangelands and range people. Maybe they will even
enter the profession with a different perspective.
One of the activities being undertaken by the Arizona section of the SRM is to engage the Young Professionals
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The Rimrock Report
Things ain’t like they used to be...continued
Committee in getting out among the people in the state, namely students, and tell them about range, about range
people, about the passion they have for the land, the goods and services it produces, and the work that they do to keep
it that way. Now, I am not so naïve as to believe we will convince all of the public that who we are and what we do is
important, or that how we do things is always right… we may not attract students in droves to enter our fraternity, but
I do think that, like the young man in the song, we may get a few years down the road and say:
“…things ain’t like they used to be…”
Click hear to see music video and read lyrics.
Northpoint High School environmental science students, many of whom had never been on a ranch,
spent a week on the V Bar V last May learning about range, ranching, and ecology. You can read
about their experiences in the July 2010 issue of the Rimrock Report.
* Excerpt from “Things ain’t like they used be.” ©Doug Tolleson, 1998
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Volume 3, Issue 4
John’s Plant of the “week”
While monitoring rangelands, I often come across plants I am unfamiliar with, sometimes
at a site I have monitored before, multiple times. I normally spend some time racking my
brain in an attempt to identify this new plant and properly account for it in my monitoring
documentation. When in-field identification attempts break down, as they often do, I collect
said plant in a manner appropriate for delivery to the University of Arizona herbarium for
identification. Recently I noticed a plant growing in a place I had not seen grow before,
lucky for me I was able to identify it quickly due to its unique fruit. It was devil’s claw or
doubleclaw, devil horns, or any other local name given this interesting native plant.
Doubleclaw, the common name used by USDA Plants database, is limited to growing in the desert southwestern
United States and northern Mexico. The scientific name is Proboscidea parviflora. But if you have ever seen this
plant you will know how easy it is to identify when it has set its unique fruit, a large seed
pod a few inches long with a cylindrical body tapering into a very long, thin curving tail. The
leaves can grow to 8 inches and are similar in shape to those of squash or gourd plants, and
hide the almost 1 inch magenta splotched white tubular flowers with yellow centers. As the
fruit sets and the plant puts more energy into growing the fruit and less into maintenance of
leaves the fruit becomes very noticeable. If you were to touch the plant and fruit at this stage
you would notice it is very sticky and the stem of the plant is thick and covered with short
hairs. As the fruit dries the tail cracks and splits open into two hooked, claw-like halves. This unique shape is
unforgettable and provides these relatively large seedpods a method for transportation. The sharp hooks easily catch
on the feet of animals and may be trampled into the soil some distance away from its origin.
Several plant identification sources state that the young tender plants may be eaten as a vegetable, and the mature
skins of the seed pod are used in Native American basket weaving. The green fruit skin turns dark, almost black as it
matures and dries, and provides a contrast to the light colored beargrass leaves providing the ability to produce
designs. I have seen these dried pods jammed together into large balls at “unique gift shops” some even had small
Christmas lights woven into them. Arizona Flora notes that these plants are regarded as a pest on sheep ranges
because the hooked beaks of the pods become entangled in the fleece.
What interested me was the sudden appearance of this plant in a location I had not seen it
growing before and it caused me to wonder how it got there and does its appearance
indicate anything of importance. Is this a sign of climate change? Is it due to the increase of
moisture this year and will it become a problem “invasive” plant? Does it indicate, gasp,
over-utilization? I was even more concerned when Bopper Cannon the V Bar V Ranch
Manager said he hadn’t seen it growing there before either.
http://nativeamericanbaskets.org/
After reviewing several documents and internet sites, I don’t think we need to worry but
should monitor this plant to see if it does indeed become widespread. It does not meet the criteria for an invasive
plant: It does not reproduce by roots or shoots, and while it is an annual, it does not produce numerous seeds that
disperse and sprout readily.
Could it be a sign of Climate Change causing this plant to slowly move into territory further north than previously
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The Rimrock Report
John’s Plant of the “week”...continued
established? The Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet), shows this plant
has been collected in all but three counties of Arizona, and has been collected in the Verde
Valley not far from the site I found it growing. It seems to be limited by altitude, so if I
notice it growing above 4,000 feet, I will surely document this for inclusion into the
herbarium collection. I mention climate change not to be political, but I feel it is our job as
land managers and scientists to document changes in our resources. If the changes indicate
the movement of a particular species of plant to more northern climates or higher elevations,
and if someone uses this in conjunction with a documented temperature increase during the
same time, one could draw the conclusion that with warming temperatures certain species will change their range.
Overgrazing is not mentioned in any of the literature I viewed in writing this article pertaining to devil’s claw. A
Field Guide to Plants of Arizona does mention that devil’s claw is commonly found along roadsides. There is a
nearby forest road that is used quite a bit by recreationists both in pickup trucks and on all terrain vehicles. Does the
increased traffic on a road cause a plant to move to new locations? While transportation corridors are common routes
for new species being introduced, I don’t think it is the cause in this case.
So why is it here? How did it arrive? It obviously caught a ride on some animal, maybe more than one to arrive at
where it grew. The pods are very stout and protect and insulate the seeds. Is it possible for the seeds to sprout while
still inside the pod if it becomes wet and retains moisture long enough, like a small peat pot you might buy at a
garden store? Could it have been growing in this location in the distant past, but due to inadequate moisture did not
grow for several years? I could not find any information on the longevity of seeds. I seem to have more questions
than answers.
I do know that I now have several devil’s claw pods drying on my desk and around my office. I believe I collected
all the pods from all the plants. Next year I will recheck that site to see if another plant
emerges in the same area. Isn’t that what we do? Observe, document and evaluate. Even if
it isn’t documented in a newsletter or journal, we put these things in our mind and build a
record. While thinking of these things we may ponder which plants no longer grow in
places they used to grow. Is this devil’s claw replacing a plant that no longer grows in this
spot? How are things changing right before our eyes?
Ancient philosopher Heraclitus (540 BC - 480 BC) was quoted as saying, “Nothing
endures but change.” It seems to me, things haven’t changed much since his time.
For more information, the following books may be of interest:
Epple Ann Orth. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona, The Globe Pequat Press1995
Kearney, T. A., and Peebles, R. H., Arizona Flora, University of California Press, 1951, 1960, 1979
Dodge, N.N., Flowers of the Southwest Desert, Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, 1985
Image References : W.L. Wagner & Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
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Volume 3, Issue 4
Bat Ramp Update...
Thanks to Verde NRCD, Arizona Game and Fish, USFS Red Rock district and the Camp Verde and Mingus Union High
School FFA, over 100 wildlife water trough escape ramps are available at the V Bar V Ranch.
We would especially encourage livestock producers in the Verde Valley to participate and install these ramps in our area.
For more information, see the July 2008 Rimrock Report.
To obtain ramps, contact: Doug Tolleson dougt@cals.arizona.edu or Jodi Allen verdeinvasives@gmail.com.
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The view from the Rim
From the Case in Point Department:
A friend of mine used to work as a rangeland management specialist for a federal agency in the northern Great Plains. There
happened to be a state recreational property in his area with a small herd of bison in a pasture near the highway. One year when it
was getting a little drouthy up there, he became concerned about the condition of the pasture and the animals so he felt compelled to
stop in and visit with the supervisor. He introduced himself and they got in the truck to drive out and look things over. After passing
the time, talking about the weather, etc… and looking at the soil, grass, and body condition of the bison, my friend expressed his
professional concern about the range conditions and suggested to the supervisor that it might be a good idea to either move the herd
to another pasture or reduce the number of animals in this one. To which the supervisor replied “Oh don’t worry, bison are natural
grazers, they instinctively know how much grass to remove, they won’t hurt the pasture…”
The University of Arizona
School of Natural Resources and the Environment
V Bar V Ranch
2657 S Village Dr
Cottonwood, AZ 86326
Just me talking...
Phone: 928-646-9113 x18
Fax: 928-646-9108
Cell: 928-821-3222
E-mail: dougt@cals.arizona.edu
Web: http://cals.arizona.edu/aes/vbarv/
Note: Please email me if you would like to be added
to the “mailing” list for this newsletter.
It’s been a good wet summer. Grass is green, cows are fat, lots of quail, and the weeds on
the side of the road are so tall you can barely see the campaign signs. Thank God for
little miracles. It has been a busy summer too. Seems like one workshop or training or
meeting after another. Luckily, several of those were over in the White Mountains of
Eastern Arizona. If you have never been to Greer, camped around Big Lake, or stood
knee deep in the Little Colorado River with a fly rod, you need to add that to your bucket
list. And while you are there, try the prime rib at Molly Butlers. The Arizona section
SRM summer meeting was in that area and despite the rain, maybe because of it, a good
time was had by all. Don Luhrsen, Jeff Rivera and many others put on a great,
informative meeting. Frank Drew Catering and the student chapters fed us well, we learned a lot about how
adaptive management is being put to use in the real world, and nobody threw rocks at the “band”. I am
especially excited about the Young Professionals Committee. We had a great organizational meeting around
the campfire one night, and elected Jamie Wages as the new chairperson. I look forward to working with her
during the rest of my tenure as the board of directors liaison for that committee. I also had a great meeting with
the Historian Committee; Willie Sommers is doing a fantastic job in that role. We wrapped up the data
collection on the weeping lovegrass study under the Mogollon Rim east of Payson. That was the first study I
participated in when I got to Arizona and I started that one by flipping an ATV and making a trip to the ER. So
it was good to end up on a good note, made it all the way up and down the mesa with all 4 wheels on the
ground. In addition to these activities, I have in recent months had the
opportunity to work on mountain riparian areas and deserts, ride horseback
across Hopi lands, observe and collect info on a wildland fire, gather and
work cattle, eat lots of BBQ, and inform the public about rangelands. What a
way to make living. But I guess somebody has to do it…
Till next time,
Doug
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