Wild horses have been in the news recently: their population on public land is now topping 33,000, while the target population is 27,000. We can’t sell ‘em for meat and can’t get them all adopted, so there’s no choice but to start shooting them because they’re degrading the range. They eat too much grass.
The interesting part of this story is omitted from news reports. The Bureau of Land Management leases grazing rights to 160 million acres of public land in the western states (excluding Alaska). There are over 13 million AUMs, or animal unit months, of grazing leased to over 18,000 permit holders. Translated into English, that means that our public land is grazed by millions of privately owned cattle.
On the 160 million acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the proper number of wild horses has been decreed to be 27,000, or one every 6,000 acres… and any more will be mowed down so they don’t take feed from millions of privately owned cattle. And if you think that’s twisted, consider the buffalo.
Buffalo were once the most successful large grazer on the continent. But are buffalo allowed on our national commons? No. The 161 million acres of land owned by the BLM in the West supported 375 buffalo in 2001, and I think that number has dropped since then (but I can’t find the link).
Lucky horses, that government agencies start shooting when the population exceeds 27,000.
Poor buffalo.
If you want to tell the Bureau of Land Management what you think about the current balance between cattle, horses and buffalo allowed to graze public land, here’s the form!
what a sad state of affairs…whats the solution?
actually there is MORE wild horses in holding (long term and short term) then there is out on the range.
also for the last many years BLM has had MASSIVE roundups that have flooded the adoption program and has caused a bad ripple effect.
Sadly the wild horses has lost over 20 millon acres since the 1971 Wild Free-roaming horse and burro act. Wild horse and burro populations are only 1% compare to the turn of the 19th century when 2 millon roamed the land.
BLM says alot but it has been shown in reports that they have mismagened and really messed up.
For those intrested in what to do and help during this, visit the Cloud Foundation online, http://www.kbrhorse.net/news/blm0801.html, and many many resources out there
The wild horses and burro, like the buffalo are on a express lane to be removed from the land.
That seems so unbelievable and senseless! I have the same question…What is the solution? Shooting 1000s of horses does NOT seem reasonable AT ALL!
Tina, I think it’s something like “Stop electing ranchers to Congress and Senate”. Alice
is it worth writing to congressmen and senators from BLM states and protesting? I also wished taxpayers held off from paying their taxes until our GOVERNMENT got real about RENEWABLE ENERGY solutions. I am very frugal and it irks me to see my tax dollars funding foreign countries for oil and a whole list of other items.
Pat, when the administration changes… then things could change. Alice