Posted on 07/18/2009 10:09:47 AM PDT by jessduntno
The outlook may still be grim for thousands of wild horses and burros, despite a rescue measure passed Friday by the House. It would give the wild animals millions more acres to roam, and spare them from the possibility of slaughter.
But there's no similar bill in the Senate and that doesn't bode well for final passage.
There are an estimated 36,000 wild horses and burros in ten Western states. Federal officials believe that's about 9,400 more than can exist in balance with other rangeland resources. More than 31,000 others are being cared for in corrals and pastures.
The Interior Department announced last year it might have to kill thousands of healthy wild horses and burros to deal with the growing population, a move that WV Congressman Nick Rahall strongly opposed.
During House debate, Republicans dismissed the rescue measure as welfare for horses, at a time when people are in need. One GOP lawmaker says the effort to save the horses is based on "emotion and not science."
(Excerpt) Read more at whsv.com ...
Someone should remind the government that horses are an invasive species.
Yes, they do. My daughter rode one that was domesticated about 3 weeks ago. It was caught by an old Apache named "Yellowhand" and it took the guy 3-4 days to finally catch him. The Federal government brought him in after they couldn't get close to the mustang after a few weeks of trying.
But yes, they round them up and sell them at auction or directly to local ranches that are interested.
Seems we need more Apaches...
appreciate that info
I’m in FL so the heat might not be a problem but good to hear your daughter had a good time.
The native americans either have jurisdiction over their lands, or they don't. They can either have casinos, or not. It is the same issue.
We are talking about an invasive species; a warm blooded weed without natural predators. Cut to the chase and it isn't much of an issue. Nobody is talking about saving the feral pigs the Spanish lost in the south are they? Unfortunately there is way too much romanticism that mucks up the issue.
There were a lot of “free” horses last winter when alfalfa was expensive.
Agreed, when talking tribal lands it’s a whole different issue and these horses are an invasive species. The main problem is animal and enviro wackos playing to the emotions of the masses that know no better.
Groups push to slaughter horses for meat, possibly starting in Oregon
This is the result of the misguided attempt to “save” the horses from being sent to slaughter for food.
The result is that both wild horses and domestic horses will wind up starving to death. People who can no longer afford to keep their horses are in some cases turning them loose to fend for themselves. It was far more humane to sell them at auction where someone could benefit from them rather than what the situation is now, where the BLM will have to PAY to have them put down and then do SOMETHING with the huge pile of carcasses to keep vultures from eating them. The medication used to euthanize them would kill any critter feasting on them.
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