No, this isn’t a headline from the Babylon Bee.
The Federal Government recently announced plans to shoot feral cattle from helicopters to help protect the environment.
The U.S. Forest Service approved a plan to fly a helicopter over the Gila National Forest to shoot wild cattle, which environmentalists claim are causing damage to rivers and streams with their mouths and hooves, local outlet KOB 4 reported.
Forest Supervisor Camille Howes said the decision was difficult but necessary.
“The feral cattle in the Gila Wilderness have been aggressive towards wilderness visitors, graze year-round, and trample stream banks and springs, causing erosion and sedimentation,” she said in a statement.
As The Daily Mail reported:
Ranchers say fewer people are maintaining fences, and gone are the rural neighbors who used to help corral wayward cows.
Some have left the business because of worsening drought, making water scarce for cattle, and skyrocketing costs for feed and other supplies.
The New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association estimates roughly 90 grazing parcels are vacant in New Mexico and Arizona.
Increased use of public lands – including hunting and hiking – also has resulted in knocked-down fences, the association said. Elk, too, are to blame for damaging fences meant to keep cows in check.
Tom Paterson, chair of the association’s wildlife committee, said the group has tried to find a solution that wouldn’t involve shooting feral cattle.
He pointed to a recent directive issued by the New Mexico Livestock Board that allows neighboring permittees to gather and herd the cattle out.
With snow on the ground, access is limited. Paterson said federal officials are not giving enough time to see if the directive will work.
His organization also has accused the US Forest Service of skirting its own regulations that call for a roundup first, and shooting as the last resort.
“Easy is not an exception to their own rules. Frustration is not an exception to the rules,” Patterson said.
“Our society should be better than this. We can be more creative and do it a better way where you’re not wasting an economic resource,” he added.
Ranchers also argue the plan is cruel and inhumane.
“Our society should be better than this,” Tom Paterson of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association said in a statement. “We can be more creative and do it a better way where you’re not wasting an economic resource.”
According to a report from NBC, ranchers are also concerned about wolves becoming used to eating cattle and coming closer to ranches in order to find more to eat.
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“Feral” cattle are usually owned by a rancher, and got away before roundup. Instead of shooting them, they should be returning them to their rightful owners. Would the government destroy “feral” cars if the owner leaves it in a parking lot too long? The owners first get a ticket, then it is towed to an impound lot. Only after an owner doesn’t pick it up is it sold at auction–NOT destroyed.
Uncle Fraud if they wanted to insist the cattle belong to them can always auction them off. I’m sure any number of ranchers would be willing to round them up and add them to their herd. There is no such thing as “feral” cattle. They belong to a nearby rancher that branded or tagged them in some way.
what do you expect from don ”joe” corleone
This is 100% backwards. Cattle aren’t causing harm to river banks, streams and springs. This is part of nature. Just how in the h**l do these idiots think herds did before we humans showed up to complain about it. I think maybe we need to S***t more humans. Just take a friggin honest look at who causes more harm to nature. Fuggin Cows or humans? They graze and reduce fire hazards. They p**p and pee and spread fertilizer the natural way. They aren’t harming, they’re helping! Only humans ate dumb enough to K**l them off instead of using the situation to have a “Long Term” study. If you leave them alone and watch…. Eventually you’re going to learn that animals and nature are better off when we stay the h**l out of their way. Kinda like government and the private sector. Government doesn’t do the Ranching….. The private sector does. If you got questions about cattle…. Ask a Rancher. Do the animals a favor and keep the suits away!
Our fascist government can’t create a true food shortage without eliminating the people’s ability to hunt and gather food for ourselves. Killing cattle, burning up chicken farms and contaminating waterways with toxic chemicals should help do the trick.
The Governments answer to everything is “K**l it”, they are doing the same in texas with the wild boar. Guys shooting animals with high powered guns and getting off over it. Some will be left with long agonizing deaths, but that is of no care
Where is PETA??! Not a Peep out of those frauds
feds are shooting cows from helicopters ,and spain just made s*x with them legal .why don’t we round up the cows and start ”bovine brothels” or ”cow w***e houses( ie; barn) maybe the cartels can run it …..would put truth to the term ”sinaloa cowboys”
The Government should go in and check for Brands……Give the Brand Owner an opportunity to collect and remove the the cow or cows….If unbranded, offer them for sale Period !!!!!