国家地理:佛罗里达美洲狮的回归(5)

As panthers strike out north of the Caloosahatchee River, they'll encounter land dominated by large ranches² and farms.

当美洲狮从卡鲁沙哈奇河向北发展时，它们会遇到由大型牧场与农场所主宰的一片土地。

Roads cut through many of these areas, and the region is dotted with small, often expanding towns.

许多农牧场为公路所穿越，整片区域内还星罗棋布着一些往往在扩张中的小城镇。

One of the better-known cattle operations in south-central Florida is the 10,500-acre Buck³ Island Ranch¹, run by Gene⁴ Lollis, a sixth-generation Floridian.

佛罗里达州中南部的巴克岛牧场占地10500英亩，是当地著名的一座牧牛场，目前由第六代佛罗里达人吉恩·洛勒斯经营。

On a March morning before sunrise, I head out on horseback with Lollis, who's wearing a cowboy hat, boots, and blue jeans,

去年3月一个日出前的早晨，我和穿戴着牛仔帽、靴子和蓝色牛仔裤的洛勒斯，

along with his son, Laurent, and a group of cowboys, to round up cattle in grasslands⁵ spotted⁶ with islands of cabbage palm and oak.

以及他的儿子劳伦特和一群牛仔，一起骑马去点缀着菜棕与栎树的草原上赶牛。

Like many ranches, Buck Island -- owned by the Archbold Biological Station, a nearby ecological⁷ research and education facility

就如同许多牧场一样，隶属于附近的生态研究暨教育中心阿奇波德生物站的巴克岛牧场，

provides critical habitat for wildlife, including panthers.

为美洲狮等野生动物提供了重要的栖地。

As dogs bay and the cowboys corral their livestock⁸, I ask Lollis, who leads the Florida Cattlemen's Association, how ranchers view the panther.

随着牧羊犬吠叫、牛群聚拢，我向领导佛罗里达牧牛协会的洛勒斯询问牧场主对美洲狮的看法。

"We're all pretty positive about them," he says. "They're part of the landscape."

“我们的看法很积极，”他说：“它们是地理景观的一部分。”

Generally speaking, the rancher and the panther face a common enemy: development, particularly new housing.

一般来说，牧场主与美洲狮有共同的敌人：开发，尤其是新住宅的开发。

Every ranch owner has had an offer from developers, Lollis says, adding that the issue is deeply personal

洛勒斯表示，每个牧场主都接到过开发商出价，他更补充道，这对他而言是非常个人的问题

ranches near Orlando where he worked as a young man have become subdivisions.

他年轻时在奥兰多附近工作过的牧场，已经分割成为许多住宅用地。

1 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

2 ranches   

大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They hauled feedlot manure from the ranches to fertilize their fields. 他们从牧场的饲养场拖走肥料去肥田。
• Many abandoned ranches are purchased or leased by other poultrymen. 许多被放弃的牧场会由其他家禽监主收买或租用。

3 buck   

n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃

参考例句：

• The boy bent curiously to the skeleton of the buck.这个男孩好奇地弯下身去看鹿的骸骨。
• The female deer attracts the buck with high-pitched sounds.雌鹿以尖声吸引雄鹿。

4 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

5 grasslands   

n.草原，牧场( grassland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Songs were heard ringing loud and clear over the grasslands. 草原上扬起清亮激越的歌声。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Grasslands have been broken and planted to wheat. 草原已经开垦出来，种上了小麦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

7 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

8 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。