Did you know that there is a “1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act?” Probably not, but then when one considers the volume of legislation created just at the federal level — legislation that remains in force, the normal reaction would be one of astonishment, of being utterly overwhelmed, of one’s eyes just glazing over. No wonder congressmen and senators have no idea what they’re voting on much of the time.
Anyway, apparently we have a crisis of excess horses and burrows running wild in western states. Enter the Bureau of Land Management and a dispute they have with the Humane Society of the United States.
Here’s the crisis in a nutshell for your consideration.
screw you Mr. Mathew Jackson……
Another person with a brilliant solution for this crappy situation.
ALL LIVES MATTER
The government ” owns” (???) millions of acres of public land. Maybe the BLM should be wrangling mustangs and spreading out the herd instead of attacking ranchers over cattle grazing permits. If we are to have a BLM, and I’m not saying we should, shouldn’t relocating public wildlife come before the destruction of it??? Don’t think for a second that the Feds aren’t going to butcher these horses and sell them to alpo for a profit. Probably even glue factory their hooves to some Mexican company. My guess if given the chance and assistance of relocation many tribal nations would take a share. A few ranchers too. This is an unnecessary waste of iconic American resources. But that’s what big government does best. How about free to a good home??? If you can round it up, break it, ride it, it’s yours.
MrsRegina Lawrence so how many have you adopted?
Is there no chance of some relocation, say where bears and wolves could keep population in check or to native tribal lands where population could be managed to a degree. I have seen horses die on there own in the night of age. You burry it. Once though( and it was enough for me) I watched a favorite horse of my step father , under my care, collapse and loose all feeling in its hind end
Sorry, posted to soon. The horse hade cancer in its spine. It was paralyzed half way down its back. It was the worst few hours I have witnessed. Calling the vet, calling my step dad back home. That was all fine. It was the hours of pain I had to watch Irish endure before he was put down. If there are sick animals than take care of them. But, 45,000 horses seems a lot. Has it been allowed to get so out of control???
I agree. However, the question then becomes, “how much intervention should take place?” Conservation and preservation is about walking that very fine line. It’s not an easy question to answer. Too many animals can tax the land leading to nitrogen overload and lack of grazeable pasture, which of course leads to starved dead horses, and any other animals that graze there. Issues like that also tend to radiate throughout the ecosystem. I don’t want to see them killed but I am not adopting any wild horses personally and I could think of a bunch of other places I would rather my tax dollar is spent.
Agree!!
Disgusting.