Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals
The West has always been a volatile landscape of extremes. Extreme heat, cold, drought and at times, precipitation, fuel the ebb and flow of the sensitive habitats that native western North American wildlife species like pronghorn, mule deer, elk and sage grouse call home. These species are perfectly adapted to this rugged environment and their population cycles are dictated in large part by the quality of the habitat. In order to sustain healthy populations of native western wildlife, non-native, invasive and destructive species must be managed, especially in the case of feral horses.
Feral horses easily outcompete pronghorn and mule deer for resources. They also destroy the sensitive habitat native fauna rely upon for survival. Add to this that feral horses are incredibly prolific, expanding their numbers by 20% annually, and you can clearly see why wildlife managers are seeking to completely eradicate feral horses from both public and private lands in Wyoming and other western states.
Feral horses do not belong in the landscapes of the West. They are invasive, destructive and the product of human recklessness and neglect. We created the issue of feral horses and we need to mitigate it. The Bureau of Land Management has a Gather Plan which you can comment on by clicking here.
Feral horses are considered “charismatic megafauna”, meaning they stir up people’s emotions and inhibit logical thought processing. That is why the BLM Gather Plan and every other attempt to manage feral horses is met with rabid, nonsensical resistance.
I have seen the impact feral horses have on both the landscapes they wander and the wildlife they compete with. It is not a pretty picture. As stewards of this planet we are forced with tough choices and feral horse removal is one of them.
I fully understand that not all of you will agree with my sentiments regarding feral horses but encourage your comments both on this blog and more importantly, on the BLM Gather Plan at the link provided. Fire away!
I would think the tribes could step up and caputure these horses for food as they did in the old days
I think there is too high of a population density of wild horses in some areas. The numbers do need to be thinned out a bit.
1000% ! Fictional nostalgia! It’s crazy to argue for existence of non-native fauna horses and same time prioritize introducing top tier predators vs where is the push to fully “reintroduce” our native once profliic bison into extensively more areas. Makes zero sense, bison prohibited (except novelty herds) but horses ok?
The Wild horse and Burro act needs to be walked back to reality. There needs to be management objectives that go beyond the current retirement plans, putting horses out to pasture for their entire lives funded by our tax dollars. Policy needs to be established that allow culling of herds, via harvest for food, and opening the number of adoption programs. Living in Nevada allows me an up close look at the devastating effects feral horses have on the environment and native species. Biological management and not misaligned animal rights is needed NOW! The numbers of horses on the landscape must come down.