We are surrounded by beauty, magic and connection on a daily basis here at Earthfire. The native land on which we reside. The majestic Teton Mountains to our east. The iconic Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of which we are a part. The wild ones we work with and the connections we form with wildlife and nature—it’s all incredible and deeply gratifying work. Our hope is that by sharing the intimate stories of our animals and our heartfelt mission, you will be inspired to protect habitat in your area—no matter where you are in the world. Wildlife and nature need habitat to flourish.
Earthfire is never without its daily dose of drama. Some days, it’s the neighbors’ runaway cows and the comedy provided by rounding them up. Other days, it’s the theatrics of highly emotional–and very vocal–foxes and wolves.
This summer, the intense heat has underscored every waking moment. Whether trying to keep the animals comfortable or our grass and many trees watered, the temperature was an inescapable barometer of how life on the ranch was feeling. While the rain gods have occasionally smiled down upon us, our seasonal irrigation stopped very early, and the stretch of unusually hot weather was an unarguable indicator that our budding hydrology plan would be our primary defense against the extreme drought and growing wildfire risk that accompany a changing climate.
I daresay we were all a little jealous of Bramble and Ramble as they frolicked in their ponds, splashing and submerging their large, glorious selves in the fresh, cool water. After weeks spent working on the pond plumbing—which led to an incredible discovery of too-many-to-count salamanders tucked contentedly into its inner workings—it was wonderful to see them so happy and playful.
Finally, as noted here, there were one, then two, and now three orphaned bear cubs brought to us by Idaho Fish and Game, a welcome if challenging addition to the ranch.
And so it goes. Undoubtedly, there will be more trials and more tribulations. More joy and more reward.
We welcome the journey, and hope you will join us in celebrating it.
