Don’t poke the bear.
That’s a common expression used to describe provoking someone – or something – that has the potential to act with force or anger. We all understand the repercussions of taunting a bear.
But more recently, I think there’s another phrase that carries a similar weight: "Don’t mess with the West." Or more specifically – don’t mess with its public lands.
To me, that paints just as powerful a picture, and it’s not a pretty one.
In June, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources released draft bill text that included a provision to sell off public lands in 11 Western states as part of ongoing federal budget reconciliation negotiations. After revisions, the bill would have opened up what some reports estimate as “millions of acres of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land” for sale.
The proposal, spearheaded by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who chairs the committee, was pitched as a way to make housing more affordable for hardworking American families.
I’m all for affordable housing. We’ve been living in a severely inflated housing market for far too long. But selling off public lands – especially with a lack of transparency – doesn’t seem like the solution. Land sales near high-demand urban growth areas could be justified, but where do we draw the line? Could this be a case of “give an inch, take a mile”? Because once public lands are sold, they’re gone for good.
To Lee’s point, it is likely that some federal lands are being underused and mismanaged. But I have a hard time believing these tracts of rangeland would become desired housing markets.
As ranchers and those of you who recreate on these lands, you know firsthand how critical these lands are to Idaho. For some operations, ranchers have depended on public lands for grazing for generations, and in many cases, it’s the foundation of their entire operation.
This isn’t the first time public lands have been threatened, and it likely won’t be the last. Just last year, the proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project near Twin Falls threatened BLM grazing leases with the potential development of up to 230 wind turbines. That project was halted when President Donald Trump took office, but the conversation around land use and access hasn’t stopped.
In 2010, the greater sage grouse was designated as a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act – a move that, if finalized, would have serious implications for grazing across the West. The ranching community joined in on an effort to protect the sage grouse, motivated by both a commitment to conservation and concern over the potential consequences of a listing. This collaborative study is highlighted in this article.
Examples like these remind us how valuable – and vulnerable – our public lands are. I’m proud of the ranchers who step up, not only to defend these lands, but to care for them for future generations.
Because if you poke the bear, don’t be surprised when it fights back.
