Carrying Capacity Not What It Seems

[COEngineer]

I know no one here will be surprised that Randy is putting out amazing content, but this one really hit home for me. For every acre of habitat lost due to human disturbance, deer a giving up another 4.6 acres of habitat because they don't want to be near oil wells etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA2YT4MksK8

 

[88man]

I know no one here will be surprised that Randy is putting out amazing content, but this one really hit home for me. For every acre of habitat lost due to human disturbance, deer a giving up another 4.6 acres of habitat because they don't want to be near oil wells etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA2YT4MksK8

What about solar fields and wind farms? They pose no issue? Just O&G?

 

[Schaaf]

What about solar fields and wind farms? They pose no issue? Just O&G?

Think etc. catches those.

 

[88man]

Think etc. catches those.

Gotcha. To some folks some things are better not said. Outta site outta mind and focus.

 

[BuzzH]

What about solar fields and wind farms? They pose no issue? Just O&G?

Absolutely they do, the pads and the roads to all energy development in general kicks the shit out of wildlife habitat. The roads alone grow nothing. Further the roads increase ease of access, spread noxious weeds, and increase ease of poaching.

The footprint for oil and gas is much larger in Wyoming than wind/solar.

But to deny the negative impacts of both is irresponsible. All loss of habitat is additive.

 

[88man]

Absolutely they do, the pads and the roads to all energy development in general kicks the shit out of wildlife habitat. The roads alone grow nothing. Further the roads increase ease of access, spread noxious weeds, and increase ease of poaching.

The footprint for oil and gas is much larger in Wyoming than wind/solar.

But to deny the negative impacts of both is irresponsible. All loss of habitat is additive.

Buzz, just your opinion do you think in the next 20 years there will be more new acres of (wind & Solar) or O & G developed in Wyoming

 

[nrpate05]

Wind and solar are huge issues - seemingly more so solar, but it depends. Solar arrays have to have perimeter fencing by law and that precludes any animal moving through the area, which is direct habitat loss. A study by Hall Sawyer found that animals use the area surrounding the solar farm less as well, which is indirect habitat loss.

https://www.researchgate.net/public...velopment_and_ungulates_on_western_rangelands

There will very likely be more new acres of wind and solar in Wyoming in the coming decades. There are projects already in the works. My understanding is that most of these will be on private land and that developers are offering landowners 'generational wealth' kind of money to build these things. I'm sure some projects will be set back due to Trump directives, but that will change someday.

Oil and Gas production, on the other hand, could skyrocket. In the most recent BLM lease sale, held yesterday, companies leased nearly 70,000 acres at an average bid of $204 per acre (I want that kind of deal...). With royalty rates down 25%, less revenue will go to local communities.

 

[BuzzH]

Buzz, just your opinion do you think in the next 20 years there will be more new acres of (wind & Solar) or O & G developed in Wyoming

Oil and gas, but I should qualify that with on public land.

Private land???

Who knows but my gut tells me that could be wind and solar.

 

[birmingham485]

We need to stay vigilant against it all - The issue for hunters is loss of good wildlife habitat and we should fight it whether it's oil/gas, renewables, strip malls, mining operations, new housing developments, ski hill expansion, or anything else they try to push onto our lands. Don't let the politicians split us up on this and fight it all!

 

[Gellar]

Oil and gas, but I should qualify that with on public land.

Private land???

Who knows but my gut tells me that could be wind and solar.

Buzz, the big craze around here is counties are working feverishly to get wind, solar and battery storage ordinances to limit the damage. For example, our county just did solar and wind ordinances. The ordinance pretty much limits development to residential only. Wind has to be below a certain height. Solar can only have so many arrays, also they put in there a development has to be so far from a wildlife management area. Are you guys seeing action like that?