Spraying

It's a Montana state law, that landowners take care of their noxious weeds.  Unfortunately, this means spraying them.  I have a LOT of reservations about spraying... environmental damage, physical damage to the person administering the spray, etc. ON THE OTHER HAND..... I've also seen what Russian Knapweed, Leafy Spurge, Blueweed, etc. have done to our wildlife habitat.

Our elk populations are having a tougher and tougher time finding food.  This is due, in part, from people expanding into their native feeding grounds, but it's also, very much due to the influx of noxious weeds... which not only spread quickly, but kill any surrounding vegetation. Elk, deer, etc. cannot eat the weeds. They are simply running out of places to graze.

Wind's Echo has been taken over by Knapweed. There isn't enough grass to support one horse, much less 3, plus deer and elk.  Last year, Bruce sprayed the far meadow, and it's flourishing this year- the elk, and deer have stayed around in large numbers.  This year, he's trying to reclaim the large pasture. It's expensive, and time consuming, but it's important, too.  Eventually, we'll make Wind's Echo a haven for wildlife.  It's important to us.