FREES
Free Roaming Equids and Ecosystem Sustainability Network
Who We Are
The Free Roaming Equid and Ecosystem Sustainability Network (FREES) are concerned Americans working to achieve the goal of healthy humans and wild horses on healthy western landscapes. There are more wild horses inhabiting these landscapes than the habitats can support. They are degrading the habitats for themselves, humans, livestock, and native wildlife. There are disagreements regarding how best to manage wild horses and burros. The disagreements must be mediated using new tools that allow all to visualize the challenges. Better management of wild horses will improve the habitats for all. Native Tribes, land grant universities, and 70 other agencies and organizations representing every cross-section of ideas, values, and emotions of this issue are part of FREES.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 FREES SUMMIT IN ELKO, NEVADA IS NOW OPEN Register Here
Why We Care
As of March 1, 2021, the BLM estimated that there were 86,189 free-roaming equids in BLM-administered herd management areas (HMAs). This is considered to be three times more equids than the habitat can support. Not every HMA is affected adversely, but where there is an overabundance of free-roaming equids, they impact the overall health of the U.S. western public rangelands by degrading ecosystem functions and reducing the forage and water available for themselves, domestic livestock, and native wildlife species.
HOW TO BRING HOME A WILD HORSE OR BURRO
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Upcoming Meetings
Updates
Announcements
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Webinars
The Free Roaming Equid and Ecosystem Sustainability network hosted two free public webinars on April 5, 2023 and April 25, 2023 to demonstrate PopEquus and answer questions about the model. The webinars featured scientists from the USGS and BLM who helped develop the tool. PopEquus press release.
Contact
FREES Network
Utah State University
5230 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5230
Email: FREES@usu.edu