Bryan Ulring, General Manager of the J Bar L Ranch and his cow dog Hank, stand for a portrait on June 19, 2012 in the Centennial Valley, near Lakeview, Montana. A new breed of cowboy, motivated to manage the land in benevolent and environmentally sensitive ways, is changing how ranching is being done in the American West - and might alter the dynamic in the 'range wars' that have long engulfed the region. Ann Hermes/Staff
Zachary Jones, general manager of Twodot Land and Livestock Company, explores the ranch land with Shannon Agee-Jones, his wife, and two daughters, River and Scotland, on June 21, 2012 near Harlowton, Montana. Zachary Jones, co-founder and manager Yellowstone Grassfed Beef, works towards economic and ecological sustainability using holistic management techniques on his family's ranch. Ann Hermes/Staff
A guest house at the J Bar L Ranch at dawn on June 20, 2012 in the Centennial Valley, Montana. The J Bar L, which is a member ranch of Yellowstone Grassfed Beef, is also a guest ranch, offering visitors a chance to herd cattle and learn about the holistic approach. Ann Hermes/Staff
Bryan Ulring and his wife, Libby Ulring, saddle the horses to gently herd cattle onto newer grass on June 20, 2012 at The J Bar L Ranch. Ann Hermes/Staff
With the help of his wife and guests staying at The J Bar L, Bryan Ulring separates the herd to check each cow for any illnesses on June 20, 2012 on ranch land in Montana. Ann Hermes/Staff
Cows are moved from one pasture to another on the J Bar L Ranch land on June 20, 2012 in the Centennial Valley. Through holistic land management the movement of the cows is meant to mimic the bison. Ann Hermes/Staff
Libby Ulring takes a break with an orphaned calf after an end to an emotion and difficult battle to save the mother's life on June 20, 2012 in the Centennial Valley. Ann Hermes/Staff
Trucks, farm equipment and old sheds remain from older generations of the Jones family's Twodot Land and Livestock Company ranch on June 21, 2012 near Harlowton, Montana. Ann Hermes/Staff
Zachary Jones talks with his daughter, River, about local grasses and animals on the family's lands on June 21, 2012 near Harlowton, Montana Ann Hermes/Staff
As general manager of the Twodot Land and Livestock Company and manager of Yellowstone Grassfed Beef, Zachary Jones spends a good deal of time in his office on conference calls. Ann Hermes/Staff
Paul Quin, summer intern at Twodot Land and Livestock Company, works on June 22, 2012 on the ranch. Quin, a Texas A&M University Rangeland Ecology and Management junior, rides an all terrain vehicle herding cows to help prevent overgrazing and promote biodiversity. Ann Hermes/Staff
Paul Quin checks the land that has been grazed to map where to move the cows on June 22, 2012. Ann Hermes/Staff
Paul Quin checks on an injured cow on the ranch on June 22, 2012. Ann Hermes/Staff
Bryan Ulring, general manager of the J Bar L Ranch, examines the grasses for signs of desertification and plant diversity on ranch land on June 20, 2012. Ann Hermes/Staff
Ranch worker Andrew Anderson and his son Andy, eat grass-fed beef at the J Bar L Ranch dining hall on June 20, 2012. Ann Hermes/Staff
Bryan Ulring checks cattle at dawn on June 20, 2012. Ann Hermes/Staff
Bryan Ulring stands next to sage grouse tracks on ranch land on June 20, 2012 in the Centennial Valley. As a part of their holistic land management approach, the J Bar L Ranch works to restore wildlife such as the sage grouse, which is a candidate for the endangered species list. Ann Hermes/Staff
Cow dog, Hank with his owner, Bryan Ulring, looks for wildlife with ranch guest, Leah Hair, at dawn on June 21, 2012 in the Centennial Valley. Ann Hermes/Staff
Sunrise over The J Bar L Ranch and Red Rock Creek in Centennial Valley, Montana. Ann Hermes/Staff
In Puget Sound, one of America’s great estuaries, killer whales, seals, and schools of salmon swim not far from more than 3 million people who live in the Seattle region. The presence of such impressive marine life, however, belies the fact that the sound is seriously polluted.
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