Last week, the Western Governors Association (WGA) hosted a webinar highlighting the challenges associated with managing wild horse and burro populations. As part of Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) Member Montana Governor Steve Bullock’s WGA National Forest and Rangeland Management Initiative, the webinar, The Future of Wild Horse and Burro Management: Challenges and Opportunities, provided panelists with the opportunity to focus on the economic and environmental impacts of wild horses and burros on western landscapes as well as possible solutions to growing horse and burro populations.
In addition to panelists that included representatives from state and local governments, conservation districts and academia, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member Congressman Chris Stewart (UT) served as moderator.
Wild horses and burros are managed according to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 – legislation that directs federal agencies to manage wild herds to “maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship.” Unfortunately, the Act has proven unsuccessful in managing the species across western landscapes that now feature overabundant horse and burro populations with some animals in extremely poor health. The overpopulation of wild horses and burros also causes strain on federal agency budgets with taxpayers bearing the burden of caring for animals that have been moved off-range for care at a cost of approximately $50 million each year.
Relying on healthy rangelands for survival, native species such as elk, mule deer, pronghorn and sage grouse also suffer as a result of wild horse and burro mismanagement as they are forced to compete for scarce habitat, water, and food sources in many areas where ecosystem health has been disrupted.
CSF serves as a steering committee member for the National Horse and Burro Rangeland Management Coalition, a diverse alliance of interests covering sportsmen, agriculture, conservation and professional member organizations committed to finding solutions to wild horse and burro issues.
For more information about the coalition or information about wild horse and burro impacts, visit the Coalition’s website at http://www.wildhorserange.org/.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
