Grazing to improve habitat

Grazing to improve habitat We hear about the perils of grazing livestock on public lands but what often fails to be mentioned is how gazing can be a vital component to restoring natural habitat. In Arizona for example, several National forests are threatened by invasive nonnative weeds. Grazing sheep and goats provides an alternative to spraying chemicals. But the U.S. Forest Service finds itself in a no- win situation. While they receive a barrage of complaints when they spray weeds, other groups are just as vocal about using grazing. If properly managed sheep, goats even cattle can efficiently eradiate weeds. Noxious weeds like bull thistle, Dalmatian toadflax and leafy spurge destroy native plant species while others invasive plants like Salt Cedar can even lower the water table. Up to the mid 1800's Western grassland and forests thrived due to the consistent rotational grazing of deer, elk bison, horses sheep and antelope, kind of interesting that with all of today's technology, the natural way is proving to be the most effective I'm Susan Allen and this is Food Forethought. Source: ENN>com April 12 2005 Sheep and insects to help kill exotic weeds in Arizona Forests.