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	Hidden Springs Ranch Case Study
	Farmer Catches Hedgerow Bug
	Mimbres Valley Southwestern Case Study
	Predator Friendly Case Study
	Willamette Wetland Case Study
	Split Rock Wildway Case Study
	Yolo Land Case Study
	Foster Ranch Hedgerow Case Study

Photo courtesy D. Tyler

Predator Friendly:

Thirteen Mile Lamb & Wool Co.

Up against the Bridger Mountains in Montana, sheep and cattle ranchers Becky Weed and Dave Tyler raise tender and tasty meat. They attribute the meat's exceptional quality to the grass-finishing technique that allows the animals to live on pasture their entire lives. By adopting organic practices, such as encouraging nitrogen-fixing clover in the pastures, periodically rotating grazing with a hay crop, and carefully culling and selecting replacement animals, Weed and Tyler have no need for chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or parasitides on the farm.

The health of Thirteen Mile Farm's rangelands are reflected not only in its livestock and forage, but also in the existing wildlife populations of predators-coyotes, bears, mountain lions, eagles, and their natural prey: mice, rabbits, gophers, and deer. Understanding the predator/prey relationships and the protective instincts animals possess has made predator-friendly ranching possible. Since Weed and Tyler ensured that their guard llama bonded to the sheep at an early age, it has furnished protection from almost every coyote, the predator that causes shepherds the most problems. Guard animals are not a cure-all, but by using common sense practices, Tyler and Weed coexist and thrive with the biological diversity of their ranch.

For information on Thirteen Mile Lamb & Wool Co, visit www.lambandwool.com or write to TML&W, 13000 Springhill Rd., Belgrade, MT 59714.

To learn more about Wild Farm Grazing Practices, go to Briefing Paper,
“Grazing for Biodiversity: The Co-Existence of Farm Animals and Native Species”