USU Extension Ask an Expert Series - Managing Wild Horses
The large population of wild horses creates a challenge for the federal agencies charged
with managing the natural ecological balance of Western rangelands. Grazing and trampling
by wild horses can impact the composition and stability of plant and animal communities,
causing permanent damage. Here are the methods used to manage populations of wild
horses:
1. Setting Population Goals
To protect wild horses and multiple-uses of public land, Congress passed the Wild
and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. This act set specific and optimal
population goals for wild horses. These population goals were established to protect the health of the horses and native wildlife, to prevent range
deterioration, and to balance all uses of public lands.
2. Holding Facilities
The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service were given the authority
to manage and remove wild horses from public rangelands when their numbers exceeded
the optimal levels. This mainly consists of capturing wild horses and moving them
to a holding facility. However, this is an expensive solution. The BLM estimates that
it costs $50,000 to maintain a horse in a holding facility for its life span.
3. Adoptions of Wild Horses
The BLM has been working with the public to facilitate the adoption of wild horses.
A great example of this in action can be seen in the USU Extension 4-H Wild Mustang
Challenge, where 4-H members adopt a wild horse, train it, and then auction it off
for funds for their clubs. Unfortunately, adoptions are not as common as they could
be. While the BLM has provided for the adoption of over 235,000 wild horse and burros,
the number being adopted by the public has dropped to less than 3,000 a year.
4. Further Research
It’s clear that the current management practices are jeopardizing the health of wild horses and Western rangelands.. Fortunately, USU Extension experts
and others are working to find a solution through research and education. In 2017,
USU Extension co-organized a National Summit on Wild Horse and Burro Management, that
was held in Salt Lake City. Summit participants learned more about the impact of contemporary
management policies and the available management alternatives. This information was subsequently summarized in a special issue Human-Wildlife Interactions
which is published by the USU Berryman Institute. This issue is available on-line
at https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/
By Terry Messmer, USU wildlife specialist
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