The Story of Cliven Bundy and the Fight to Save the Desert Tortoise

http://www.care2.com/causes/the-story-of-cliven-bundy-and-the-fight-to-save-the-desert-tortoise.html

by Crystal ShepeardApril 23, 20144:00 pm



On April 5, 2014, the Bureau of Land Management began rounding up cattle that were grazing in the 600,000 acre area of Gold Butte, Nevada. They were acting on a court order to remove nearly 400 cows belonging to rancher Cliven Bundy who had been allowing them to graze there illegally.

Within a few days, Bundy became a national story. While the rest of America was just beginning to hear his name, this tale began more than 20 years ago and it started over an endangered desert tortoise.

Having existed for millions of years, the desert tortoise lives in many types of desert habitats. In recent history, their population has seen a serious decline, largely due to human activities destroying much of their habitat. The tortoise is very sensitive to its environment, and needs specific types of plants to eat and soil in which to burrow for nesting and hibernating. In 1989, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service listed the desert tortoise on its endangered species list and the next year, it was deemed threatened. By 1993, the Bureau of Land Management had designated hundreds of thousands of acres of federal land near Las Vegas, Nevada for strict conservation efforts to support the desert tortoise. This meant the limiting of off-road vehicles and the elimination of livestock grazing.

Many ranchers had been paying grazing fees for use of the newly protected areas. The BLM purchased those rights from several ranchers without issue. Several ranchers, and a few off-roaders, were not happy about the new plans. One of those ranchers was Cliven Bundy.

FULL story at link.