Environment A loophole allows ranchers to renew grazing permits with little scrutiny of environmental impact With dwindling oversight, cattle are grazing where they’re not supposed to and in greater numbers or for longer periods than permitted. This can spread invasive plants, pushing out native species and worsening wildfire risk. By Mark Olalde and Lucas Waldron, ProPublica, Jimmy Tobias for High Country News and photography by Roberto “Bear” Guerra, High Country News / 1 Dec 2025