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Bureau of Land Management, Ann Boucher/AP
BLM Proposes Slaughtering Wild Horses
The Bureau of Land Management is considering a plan to slaughter wild horses in the West to contain their soaring populations.
30-Second Summary
There are more wild horses roaming the West than the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) says it can handle, and the agency is considering slaughtering some animals to get herds under control.
As of Feb. 29, 2008, approximately 33,000 wild horses and burros were free on BLM-managed lands, and more than 30,000 were in holding facilities.
Those numbers concern the BLM, which says the size of wild horse and burro herds can double every four years because the animals “have virtually no natural predators.”
Ranchers argue that an excess of wild horses creates competition for food on the range, and in drought conditions could cause horses to starve to death.
The BLM allows wild horses to be adopted privately, but the agency says the current state of the economy, and the price of hay and fuel are stifling adoption numbers. Now officials are looking at alternative ideas for population management.
In 2007, caring for captured horses required about $22 million of the BLM’s $39 million horse budget. In 2008 those costs are expected to increase to $26 million, while the overall budget drops to $37 million.
The BLM says it is still hasn’t decided which course of action it will pursue, but noted that it is discussing its options with humane groups.
Other animal management debates have dominated headlines in the West in recent months, including the slaughter of bison in Yellowstone National Park, and the issue of whether to keep gray wolves on the endangered species list.
As of Feb. 29, 2008, approximately 33,000 wild horses and burros were free on BLM-managed lands, and more than 30,000 were in holding facilities.
Those numbers concern the BLM, which says the size of wild horse and burro herds can double every four years because the animals “have virtually no natural predators.”
Ranchers argue that an excess of wild horses creates competition for food on the range, and in drought conditions could cause horses to starve to death.
The BLM allows wild horses to be adopted privately, but the agency says the current state of the economy, and the price of hay and fuel are stifling adoption numbers. Now officials are looking at alternative ideas for population management.
In 2007, caring for captured horses required about $22 million of the BLM’s $39 million horse budget. In 2008 those costs are expected to increase to $26 million, while the overall budget drops to $37 million.
The BLM says it is still hasn’t decided which course of action it will pursue, but noted that it is discussing its options with humane groups.
Other animal management debates have dominated headlines in the West in recent months, including the slaughter of bison in Yellowstone National Park, and the issue of whether to keep gray wolves on the endangered species list.
Headline Link: ‘Wild Horses May Face Death Sentence’
The BLM manages approximately 250 million acres of public lands in the West, and supervising wild horses is one of its responsibilities. Between 10,000 and 12,000 wild horses are captured by the agency each year; around half of those horses are in Nevada.
Source: NPR
Reactions: Thoughts on wild horses
“It’s a sad state of affairs when we have to fight to prevent the possible euthanasia of thousands of American horses,” said U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall of W.Va. “We have a responsibility to preserve these icons of the American West for future generations.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said an upcoming report from the General Accounting Office could show that the BLM hasn’t done “a particularly effective job” managing the horses.
Source: The Salt Lake Tribune
“The BLM faces difficult choices in the West’s wild horse and burro program,” the agency said on its Web site, explaining that it cannot “allow horses to multiply unchecked on the range without causing an environmental disaster.”
Source: Bureau of Land Management
A Canadian couple has recognized the overabundance of wild horses in the United States and purchased 31 animals to bring to their farm in Saskatchewan. The pair plans to tame and sell what horses they can, and breed the rest. “We’re trying to take our group of horses and make them tame enough so that they can enjoy what they were created for,” said Kelly Ricketts. “They were meant to bring companionship to people, and now they can be used for their potential.”
Source: Regina Leader-Post
Related Topic: Animal management debates
Brucellosis is a hot-button issue around Yellowstone National Park, where bison and elk are blamed for transmitting the disease to cattle herds. Bison have already been slaughtered to stop the spread, and there are calls to manage elk in a similar fashion. Some say the federal government needs to assume a greater role in controlling brucellosis, but those closer to the situation contend it doesn’t need to be handled “from 2,000 miles away in Washington, D.C.”
Source: Deseret News
On March 28, 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service removed gray wolves living in the northern Rockies from the endangered species list. The move allowed for hunting of the animals, and aroused concern among environmental groups, who worry that wolf killings could go unchecked. They sued to have the wolves returned to the endangered list.
Source: findingDulcinea
Sea lion populations have been growing in the Pacific Northwest since the Marine Mammal Protection Act went into effect in 1972. Meanwhile, salmon populations have become endangered in the area. Sea lions feed on salmon, and fisherman and American Indian tribes have lobbied to cut down on the number of sea lions to protect the salmon.
Source: findingDulcinea
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