Fence removal signal future of agriculture in California area
PT. REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, Calif. (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - In recent years, this fence has come to symbolize the range war between environmentalists and ranchers here in the Pt. Reyes National Seashore. But what happens to the fence may well signal the future of agriculture in this area.
Ten days ago, the National Park Service sent out a press release that shocked everyone in the fight over the Tule Elk Reserve at Tomales Point, announcing a proposed change to the general plan.
"The proposed action would include removal of the Tule Elk fence and temporary water systems installed during the most recent drought," the press release spoke.
It seems no one on either side saw this coming.
"Blindsided all of us"
"Sudden announcement, blindsided all of us...delightfully so...that the Park Service is proposing finally removing this fence. Out of the blue...had no idea that was coming," said Jack Gescheidt, consultant for In Defense of Animals.
During the drought, roughly a third of the elk in the reserve died from thirst or deprivation. Activists, including Gescheidt, demanded the fence be removed to allow the elk to roam freely into the pasture lands of the adjacent cattle ranches.
"Hundreds of elk have died inside this so-called 'reserve.' It's a reserve that is actually lethal to elk contained within it when it's hot and dry, which it increasingly is because of climate crisis," Gescheidt remarked.
Gescheidt is suing the government over the elk deaths, but he really wants the complete removal of the cattle ranches from the park. So, the Park Service's announcement blindsided the ranchers, as well.
Impact on the ranches
"I think it's shock. It's…by taking the fence down, it pretty much determines that there won't be ranching in the park," said Albert Strauss, founder of the Strauss Family Creamery.
In addition to founding the creamery, Strauss buys milk from dairies located at Tomales Point. He says elk are aggressive foragers and will push cattle out in competition for food and water.
"And if they grow in numbers, it will just make in impossible to farm out in the park."
Both men acknowledge that removing the fence would have an impact on the ranches, but the activists think they have no business being there in the first place.
Raising questions
The ranchers feel they're being demonized for operating farms that have existed for more than 150 years. The concern is whether the elk fence proposal is a signal that the government wants that to end.
"You won't have…it will be the end of farming in Point Reyes," Strauss expressed.
"It's the first necessary step, so great. But there are more steps necessary before this thing comes down, elk are released, and are freed inside a national park, where they should be free," Gescheidt spoke.
The proposal doesn't include many details. It just raises a lot of questions, including questions about the future of ranching in the park.
